tihvary  of  Che  theological  ^tminary 

PRINCETON    .    NEW  JERSEY 


PRESENTED  BY 

Mrs,  Josie  Scudder  Lane 


BX  9211  .A54  K83  1912 
Kugler,  John  Backer. 
The  history  of  the  First 
English  Presbyterian  Churc 


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REV.  JOHN  B.   KUGLER. 


THE  HISTORY 

OF 

THE  FIRST  ENGLISH 

PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH 

IN  AMWELL 


BY 

REV.  JOHN  BACKER  "kuQLER,  A.  M. 

CLINTON,  N.  J. 


1912 


The  Unionist-Gazette  association 
somerville,  n.  j. 

X  9  I  2 


Copyright,  1912,  by  The  Unionist-Gazette  Association 
Somerville,  New  Jersey 


DEDICATION. 

IT  IS  IN  HARMONY  WITH  THE  FITNESS  OF  THINGS  THAT 

I  Dedicate 

THIS    HISTORY   TO   YOU 

ANN  ELIZABETH  CRAMER, 

MY  BELOVED  WIFE. 

I  do  this  to  express  my  appreciation  of  your  great 
helpfulness  in  the  work  we  shared  for  the  Master;  and 
with  the  intent,  that  it  may  serve  as  a  Memorial  of  your 
faithfulness  in  his  service,  after  we  shall  have  finished 
our  Mission.  It  was  while  the  June  roses  were  bloom- 
ing in  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-three  that  you  per- 
mitted me  to  call  you  by  my  own  name.  From  that  day 
onward,  the  charm  of  your  personality  has  blessed  my 
home.  At  once  your  enthusiasm  for  the  Saviour's  work 
kindled  a  like  zeal  among  the  Church  women,  so  that 
they  gladly  followed  your  leadership  without  faltering 
during  the  ten  years  we  continued  in  the  home  Church 
of  your  girlhood  and  young  womanhood.  This  is  an 
achievement,  I  believe,  rarely  equalled,  never  surpassed. 

And  further,  the  same  unswerving  devotion  to  duty 
on  your  part  was  a  large  factor  in  accomplishing  blessed 
results  in  the  other  churches  in  connection  with  which 
our  lot  was  cast. 

John  B.  Kugler. 


FOREWORD. 

The  writer  is  aware  that  from  the  viewpoint  of  the 
stranger  this  History  may  seem  to  be  burdened  with 
unimportant  statements.  Be  it  so.  In  reply  he  begs  to 
say  that  in  its  production  his  aim  has  been  to  aid  a 
venerable  Mother  to  tell  the  Story  of  her  life  to  her 
children.  True,  multitudes  of  these  children  have 
obeyed  the  Master's  call  to  come  home;  yet  there  are 
others  who  fondly  gather  within  her  doors  for  worship, 
while  vaster  numbers  of  her  children  and  children's 
children  are  scattered  and  settled  in  nearly  every  State 
of  the  Union. 

From  these  scattered  children  have  come  to  the 
writer,  again  and  again,  requests  for  just  such  unim- 
portant facts  (but  very  important  to  a  child),  as  are 
here  given. 

His  deep  regret  is,  that  many  of  these  requests  must 
ever  remain  unanswered.  Conscious  of  this,  and  other 
deficiencies,  yet  after  long  and  persistent  research,  he 
submits  this  record  of  those  whose  memories  we  fondly 
cherish,  along  with  this  venerable  Mother  Church  for 
which  his  affection  has  increased  with  years  of  de- 
voted service,  with  the  desire  that  it  may  awaken  a 
stronger  attachment  to  this  Church  of  Christ,  and  a 
gladness  like  that  of  the  Psalmist,  when  they  say  unto 
us:     Let  us  go  into  the  house  of  the  Lord. 

John  B.  Kugler. 
Clinton,  N.  J.,  March  5th,  1912. 


TABLE   OF   CONTENTS. 

FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH   IN   AMWELL — PERIOD  I. 

Page. 

First  Things, — First  Dates 15 

First   Families — The   Cases,   The    Holcombes,   The 

Coryells,  The  Stouts,  The  Chamberlins 21 

The  Hills,  The  Sutphens,  The  Griggs 30 

The  Henrys,  The  Pralls 37 

The  Readings    57 

The  Church  in  the  Cemetery,  its  date ;  the  first  meet- 
ing of  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  and  first 

in  Amwell 60 

Rev.  John  Rowland 61 

Whitefield  at  Amwell 67 

The  Lottery    70 

The  first  pastor.  Rev.  Eliab  Byram 72 

Second  Amwell  organized 74 

The  oldest  subscription  paper 76 

The  second  pastor.  Rev.  Benjamin  Hait 79 

The  third  pastor.  Rev.  William  Kirkpatrick 87 

His  death 87 

The  Communion  Cups 42  and  88 

Bequest  of  Joseph  Reed 89 

PERIOD  II. 

The  fourth  pastor,  Mr.  Warford 93 

Mrs.  Kirkpatrick  and  Mr.  Warford  are  married ...  98 

Salary  paid  in  produce 102 

Depreciated  currency 106 


vi  CONTENTS 

Page. 
Means  of  heating  the  Church  and  the  form  of  Church 

building    in 

Pews  and  pew  holders in 

Death  of  Miss  Kirkpatrick 113 

William,  son  of  Mr.  Kirkpatrick 114-117 

Rev.  Mr.  Warford  leaves  Amwell 117 

Roll  (on  parchment)  for  swearing  Trustees 118 

Appendix  II,  Captain  John  Schenck. 120 

The  fifth  pastor.  Rev.  Thomas  Grant 122 

Dr.  John  Witherspoon  in  Amwell 123  and  128 

Petition  for  Church  at  Flemington 125 

Argument  for  the  same 127 

Mr.  Grant  ordained  and  installed 129 

Flemington  formed  themselves  into  a  Church 130 

First  existing  Minute  Book  of  Trustees 130 

Purchase  of  plantation 130 

The  plantation  sold 132 

Mr.  Grant  resigns 134 

The  sixth  pastor.  Rev.  Jacob  Kirkpatrick 137 

Limited   call    138 

The  German  Church  became  Presbyterian  and  united 

with  Amwell  First 142 

The  corporate  name  taken 142 

Names  born  by  these  churches 143 

The  union  dissolved 147 

Business  meetings  of  the  two  churches  often  held  at 

the  house  of  Joseph  Kugler 146-148 

Mr.  Kirkpatrick  goes  with  Amwell  Second  and  the 

new  Church    149 

Sketch  of  Mr.  Kirkpatrick 150 


CONTENTS  vK 

Page. 
Organization  of  the  Hunterdon  County  Bible   So- 
ciety        154 

List  of  Mr.  Kirkpatrick's  supporters 156 

PERIOD  III. 

The  seventh  pastor,  Rev.  John  F.  Clark 163 

Amwell  First  alone  in  support  of  pastor 163 

List  of  people  adhering  to  this  Church 165 

Flemington  proposes  union 168 

Union  consummated 1 70 

Rev.   Mr.   Clark  appointed  as  Supply  for  half  his 

time    i^i 

Smallness  of  subscriptions  for  support  of  Church.  ...    175 

List  of  members  w^hen  Mr.  Clark  took  charge 176 

Mrs.  Mary  Wilson,  daughter  of  Peter  Fisher 177 

What  Mr.  Clark  did  for  the  Church 178-183 

Union  with  Flemington  discontinued 184 

Mr.  Clark  called  for  his  whole  time  by  Amwell.  ...    184 

Mr.  Clark  resigns 184 

Sabbath  School  organized  by  Mr.  Clark 184 

Sketch  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark 188 

The  eighth  pastor,  Rev.  David  Hull 190 

Decide  to  build  new  Church 193 

Funds   in   hand   used   for  new   Church,   and   to  be 

built  at  Greenville 193 

Built  by  contract,  and  cost 194 

Date  of  the  erection  of  new  Church 194 

Presbytery  of  Raritan  organized 195 

Union  with  Clover  Hill  consummated 196 

Sketch  of  Mr.  Hull 210 


viii  CONTENTS 

Page. 

The  ninth  pastor,  Rev.  Benjamin  Carrell 21 1 

Members  received  by  Mr.  Carrell 214 

Total  number 219 

Mr.  Carrell  dismissed  at  his  own  request  by  Presby- 
tery      219 

The  work  of  the  Church  for  Missions  during  Mr. 

Carrell's  pastorate    220 

Sketch  of  Mr.  Carrell 221 

The  tenth  pastor,  Rev.  Geo.  P.  Van  Wyck 222 

Result  of  labors 224 

Pastor's  sickness 224 

Pastoral  relation  dissolved 225 

Sketch  of  Mr.  Van  Wyck 225 

Union  of  the  Church  with  Clover  Hill  dissolved . .  .  226 

The  eleventh  pastor.  Rev.  J.  B.  H.  Janeway 228 

Mr.   Janeway   installed 228 

Ingathering  under  Mr.  Janeway 231 

Death  of  Mrs.  Janeway 232 

Personal  sketch  of  Mr.  Janeway 233 

The  twelfth  pastor,  Rev.  N.  L.  Upham 234 

His  installation 234 

Favorable  condition  of  the  Church 236 

Session  enlarged    236 

Loss  of  Elders  by  death 236 

Members  received  by  Mr.  Upham 238 

Parsonage  built 241 

Increased  beneficence  of  the  church 242 

Personal  sketch  of  Mr.  Upham 243 

Thirteenth  pastor,  Rev.  John  H.  Scofield 245 

Mr.   Scofield  installed •  •  245 


CONTENTS  ix 

Page. 

Election  of  Elders  and  deacons 246 

Members  received  by  Mr.  Scofield 248 

Result  of  beneficient  work  of  the  Church 250 

Report  of  interest  on  parsonage  discontinued 251 

Personal  sketch  of  Mr.  Scofield 251 

He  married  a  descendant  of  Gov.  Reading 252 

Fourteenth  pastor,  Rev.  John  S.  Beekman 252 

Rev.  Mr.  Macbeth  supplied  pulpit 253 

Mr.   Beekman   installed 253 

Persons  received  by  Mr.  Beekman 254 

Amwell  unites  with  neighboring  churches  in  support- 
ing Missionary  on  Sourland  Mountains 255 

''Difficulty"  in  the  Church 256 

Firm  stand  for  orderly  proceedings  taken  by  Chair- 
man Hill   258 

Beneficent  work  under  Mr.  Beekman 260 

The  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society  organized 

under  Mr.   j^eekman 260 

Personal  sketch  of  Mr.  Beekman 261 

The  fifteenth  pastor,  Rev.  J.  W.  P.  Blattenberger.  .  263 

His  installation   264 

Gift  from  Mrs.  John  Quick 266 

Pastor  offered  his  resignation 267 

Opposed  by  Congregation  and  he  remained •.  .  .  267 

Pastoral  relation  to  Church  dissolved 268 

A  great  ingathering  into  the  Church 269 

New  Elders  chosen 273 

The  Church  enlarged  and  greatly  improved 277 

Tabulated  statement  of  Church's  beneficence 279 

Personal  sketch  of  Mr.  Blattenberger 279 


X  CONTENTS 

Page. 

Appendix  No.  i.,  Elder  John  Y.  Bellls 280 

The  Sixteenth  pastor,  Rev.  T.  C.  Potter 283 

Called    283 

Installed    285 

Close  of  first  year 286 

Pastoral  relations  dissolved 287 

C.  E.  Societ>-  organized 287 

Personal  sketch 289 

Appendix.  Geo.  P.  Rex,  M.  D 290 

The  seventeenth  pastor,  Rev.  J.  B.  Kugler 294 

Mr.  Kugler  installed 296 

Foreign  Missions  pressed  on  the  Church 297 

Death  of  Elder  Hill 300 

Increased  interest  in  Foreign  jVIissions 305 

Inter-Church  evangelism 307 

Mrs.  Kugler  organized  Mission  Band 309 

Death  of  Deacon  Sutphen 310 

The  1 60th  anniversary-  of  the  Church 311 

Hunterdon  Count}'  Church  evangelism 314 

Election  of  Elders 315 

Death  of  Deacon  John  Quick 316 

Pastor's  sickness    318 

Pastoral  relation  to  Church  dissolved 319 

Review  of  pastor's  aims  and  successes 320 

Tabulated  statement  of  beneficence 322 

Sexton  Wm.   Cronce 324 

Mrs.  Christianna  Wert 324 

Personal  sketch  of  pastor 324 

Appendix,  Elder  Quick 326 

Roll  of  officers  and  members 329 


PERIOD  I. 

This  is  the  Colonial  Period;  Extending  From  the 
Origin  of  the  Church  to  the  Declaration 

OF   In'DEPEN'DENCE. 


The  Amwell  First  Church 

PERIOD  I. 

Section  i.     First  Things. 

Walk  about  Zion,  and  go  round  about  her;  tell  the 
towers  thereof.  Mark  ye  well  her  bulwarks^  consider  her 
palaces;  that  ye  may  tell  it  to  the  generation  following. — 
Ps.  48:12-13. 

THE  text  assigns  two  duties  which  claim  our  at- 
tention. The  one  is  to  recognize  the  full  equip- 
ment of  Zion  for  defense  and  safety  and  fellowship 
as  shown  by  tower  and  bulwark  and  palace.  And  so 
confident  is  the  psalmist  of  security  that  he  asks  for  a 
military  inspection  of  ZIon's  security.  And  yet  it  is 
patent  to  all  believers  that  he  does  not  so  much  rely  on 
these  fortifications  for  the  protection  of  Zion,  as  upon  the 
more  essential  fact,  that  God  is  known  in  her  palaces  for 
a  refuge.  It  is  this  most  precious  truth,  wrought  into  the 
very  fibre  of  the  Jewish  patriot  who,  rejoicing  in  this 
relationship,  exclaims,  "The  Lord  is  my  rock,  and  my 
fortress,  and  my  deliverer."  We  would  be  disloyal  to 
our  divine  Master  not  to  recognize  his  indwelling  in  the 
Church  now,  as  really  as  in  the  past.  For  safety  and 
for  victory,  the  Lord  of  hosts  is  with  us;  the  God  ot 
Jacob  is  our  refuge.  God  is  good  to  Zion,  and  he  would 
have  his  goodness  known.  For  lack  of  this  knowledge 
men  perish. 

Hence   the  second   duty  enjoined  is  to  make  known 

3 


4  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

the  fact  of  God's  indwelling  in  his  Church,  as  the  source 
of  her  life,  and  strength,  and  safety.  And  knowing  this 
each  generation  is  to  "tell  it  to  the  generations  following.*' 
And  while  thus  he  continues  to  be  his  people's  strength 
and  safety,  be  it  remembered  that  the  instruments  of  his 
care,  and  the  gifts  of  his  love  may  differ.  The  tower  and 
bulwark  of  the  Church  to-day  are  the  finished  atonement, 
the  risen  Christ,  the  gift  of  the  Spirit,  the  completed 
Bible,  the  ministry  of  the  Word,  the  appointed  Sacra- 
ments, and  the  consecrated  lines  of  her  sons  and  daugh- 
ters. The  monuments,  documents  and  sacraments  of  both 
Old  Testament  and  New,  by  stress  of  example,  show  how 
God  would  have  us  make  known  the  former  victories 
of  his  grace  to  the  present  generation ;  then,  gathering  up 
the  achievements  of  the  past  and  present,  to  "tell  all  to 
the  generation  following."  Herein  is  divine  authority  for 
Church  History.  In  obedience  to  this  authority  we  arc 
assembled  here  to-day  to  tell  the  story  of  the  Amwell 
First  Presbyterian  Church.  So  far  as  our  own  experience 
demands  this  would  be  an  easy  task. 

But  to  gather  up  the  neglected  and  forgotten  past  in 
the  history  of  this  venerable  Church,  and  from  a  line 
here  and  a  name  or  date  there,  to  tell  what  God  has 
wrought  in  her,  and  by  her,  has  been  found  most  difficult 
to  accomplish.  And  I  am  conscious  that  this  attempt  to 
tell  the  story  of  his  doings  in  the  past  to  the  present  gen- 
eration, and  to  put  it  on  record  for  the  generation  follow- 
ing will  be  found  far  from  satisfactory.  To  shield  myself 
from  too  severe  criticism  for  such  deficiency  I  beg  to  state 
that  the  Records  of  the  Session  of  the  Church  are  lost 
from  the  unknown  beginning  up  to  1821,  or  a  period  of 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  5 

at  least  eighty-four  years.  And  the  Records  of  Trustees 
and  Congregational  Meetings  are  also  lost  up  to  1792,  a 
period  of  at  least  fifty-five  years. 

To  cover  this  long  period  we  must  rely  first  upon  the 
Records  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  with  a 
record  or  two  on  the  minutes  of  the  Presbytery  of  Phila- 
delphia. 

In  addition  to  these  chief  sources  of  information  we 
have  a  few  subscription  lists  and  other  scattered  papers, 
preserved  by  Jasper  Smith,  one  of  the  early  and  most 
active  members  of  this  Church.  We  have  also  been  able 
to  cull  a  few  facts  from  Hodges'  Constitutional  History 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  from  Alexander's  Log  Col- 
lege, from  Murphy's  Presbytery  of  the  Log  College,  from 
Nevius'  Encyclopedia,  from  Mott  and  Blattenberger,  who 
have  reaped  and  garnered  all  the  full  sheaves  from  this 
field,  from  Sprague,  and  Webster,  from  Smith's,  N.  J., 
and  Snell's  Hunterdon  County,  from  Cooley  of  Ewing, 
and  Hall  of  Trenton,  from  Beatty,  Kirkpatrick  and  Con- 
verse; from  family  records  furnished  by  several  members 
of  this  congregation,  from  correspondence  with  distant 
ministers  and  professors,  and  from  visits  of  inquiry  and 
research  to  distant  cities,  and  last  of  all,  from  the  me- 
morial stones  and  monuments  in  yonder  cemetery,  where 
sleep  the  beloved  dead  of  the  congregation. 

Yet  we  do  not  know  the  date  of  the  organization  of 
the  Church,  nor  who  were  its  first  members,  nor  the  names 
of  the  persons  active  in  its  establishment.  However,  there 
are  many  facts  of  much  value  pertaining  to  the  early 
history  of  the  Church,  which  we  deem  worthy  of  being 
recorded.    The  small  country  Church  is  too  often  looked 


6  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

upon  as  an  institution  of  but  little  importance  to  the 
State  or  the  Church  at  large.  Yet  I  am  confident  that 
the  history  of  this  Church,  along  with  scores  of  others, 
similar  in  location  and  numbers,  will  show  how  erroneous 
that  opinion  is.  This  Church  not  only  has  a  history,  but 
that  history  shows  it  to  be  a  factor  of  great  efficiency  and 
influence  in  the  nation  and  in  the  Church  at  large.  In 
the  first  place,  the  Church  stands  on  historic  grounds, 
and  is  identified  with  "the  beginnings  of  things."  A 
tribe  of  Indians  living  near  the  site  of  Hartsville,  Pa., 
had  a  path  to  and  across  the  Delaware  at  Lambertville, 
and  thence  to  Newark,  by  way  of  Mt.  Airy,  Ringoes  and 
Reaville.  In  time  this  path  became  the  Old  York  Road. 
In  a  deed  for  land  at  Ringoes,  dated  August  25th,  1726, 
this  is  described  as  the  King's  Highway,  that  is  called  the 
York  Road.  That  road  passed  the  doors  both  of  the  old 
Church  and  that  in  which  we  now  worship.  And  this  is 
historical  ground  in  a  higher  sense. 

The  oppressions  of  Charles  II,  who  died  in  1685, 
toward  dissenters  of  every  phase  of  faith,  such  as  Quakers, 
Puritans,  Independents  and  Presbyterians,  and  the  greater 
sufferings  visited  upon  the  same  people  by  that  monster 
of  cruelty,  his  brother,  the  Duke  of  York,  who  reigned 
as  James  II,  until  December  25,  1688,  drove  many  of 
these  most  valuable  citizens  from  the  kingdom.  Some 
went  to  Germany,  others  to  Holland,  and  many  came 
to  the  Colonies  in  America.  And,  though  the  government 
changed  for  the  better,  in  subsequent  reigns,  yet  religious 
privileges  were  much  restricted,  especially  from  17 14  to 
1740.  As  a  consequence,  multitudes  of  the  oppressed  came 
to  America  for  the  freedom  they  could  not  find  at  home. 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  7 

The  revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes  by  Louis  XIV  ot 
France  in  1685,  ^^^  lik:^  oppressions  in  the  Palatinate, 
now  covered  chiefly  by  Bavaria  and  Baden,  had  a  similar 
effect,  in  driving  many  earnest  souls  from  their  own 
country,  of  whom  thousands  came  to  America. 

Fronde  says  that  in  two  years,  after  the  Antrim  Evic- 
tion, 30,000  Protestants  left  Ulster,  in  the  north  of  Ire- 
land, for  a  land  where  there  was  no  legal  robbery.  Ships 
could  not  be  found  to  carry  the  people  who  were  eager  to 
go.  The  rich  and  spacious  Amwell  Valley  at  an  early 
day  received  many  of  these  worthy  immigrants.  Some 
landing  at  Philadelphia,  proceeded  to  Lambertville,  and 
came  into  the  valley  from  the  west.  Others  landed  at 
Perth  Amboy  or  New  York.  Many  settled  on  Long 
Island,  others  on  Staten  Island,  who  eventually  came  over 
to  Jersey,  journeyed  up  the  Raritan,  and  finally  settled  in 
Amwell. 

Such  a  people  will  make  history.  They  will  also  or- 
ganize a  church  and  form  a  state.  So  worthy  an  ancestry 
should  inspire  us  with  the  determination  to  be  their 
worthy  sons.  These  are  the  people  who  formed  this 
Church.  But  when?  We  do  not  know.  But  in  1738 
the  Synod  of  Philadelphia  ordered  that  the  members  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Long  Island  should  be  united  with  the 
Presbytery  of  East  Jersey,  and  be  henceforth  known  by 
the  name  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  York.  The  same 
year  came  a  supplication  of  some  members  of  the  Pres- 
bystery  of  New  York  to  be  erected  into  a  new  Presbytery 
with  certain  members  of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia. 
The  petition  was  granted  and  the  churches  to  constitute 
the  Presbytery  mentioned.    And  it  was  ordered  that  said 


8  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Presbytery  be  known  by  the  name  of  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Brunswick,  and  that  the  time  of  their  first  meeting 
be  the  second  Tuesday  (which  was  the  8th)  of  August 
next,  and  that  they  meet  at  New  Brunswick.  Amwell 
First  was  at  this  time  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Phil- 
adelphia and  was  by  this  order  made  a  member  of  the 
Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick.  It  was  then  an  organ- 
ized Church,  having  a  house  of  worship.  This  date,  1738, 
160  years  ago,  has  long  been  that,  from  which  the  exist- 
ence of  this  Church  has  been  known  or  recorded.  That  it 
was  then  an  organized  Church,  with  a  house  of  worship, 
is  evidence  conclusive  that  its  origin  was  prior  to  this 
date.  After  long  research  I  have  been  able  to  carry  the 
date  back  one  year.  From  the  records  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Philadelphia  we  learn  that  Francis  McHenry,  before 
leaving  Ireland,  married  the  eldest  daughter  of  Hugh 
Wilson,  who  emigrated  with  his  family  and  friends  to 
America,  and  was  among  the  first  purchasers  at  Craig's 
Settlement  in  the  Forks  of  the  Delaware. 

McHenry  appeared  before  the  Presbytery  November 
lOth,  1737.  He  was  licensed  after  examination  and 
directed  to  supply  Amwell,  Bethlehem  and  other  vacan- 
cies in  Hunterdon  County,  N.  J.  The  date  of  his  preach- 
ing here  is  not  given.  Again,  Hugh  Carlisle,  most  prob- 
ably from  Ireland,  or  Scotland,  was  admitted  into  the 
Presbytery  of  Newcastle  in  1735.  He  joined  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Philadelphia  in  1736.  He  was  called  to  New- 
town and  Plumstead,  in  Bucks  County,  Pa.,  in  1737,  but 
declined  the  call.  He  was  sent  by  the  Presbytery  to  sup- 
ply Amwell  and  Bethlehem,  in  Hunterdon  County,  N.  J., 
with  other  vacancies.    Which  of  these  two  men  came  first 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  9 

to  our  Church  the  records  do  not  definitely  state,  but 
both  were  sent  or  ordered  in  November,  1737.  Here 
again  we  have  the  Church,  but  not  the  date  of  its  origin, 
but  showing  its  existence  161  years  ago. 

While  unable  to  give  that  date  definitely,  we  are  war- 
ranted in  placing  it  long  previous  to  1737.  This,  on  pre- 
sumptive evidence.  Presumption,  it  is  true,  is  not  history, 
but  presumptive  evidence  may  be  so  strong  as  to  demand 
consideration.  Such  it  is  as  to  the  earlier  date  for  the 
origin  of  this  Church. 

In  the  first  place,  the  people  were  on  the  ground  in 
sufficient  numbers,  and  with  character  and  religious  ten- 
dency of  such  a  degree  as  to  make  a  church  a  necessity  to 
their  full  enjoyment.  In  fact  they  left  home  and  settled 
in  America  in  order  to  secure  for  themselves  church  privi- 
leges to  the  full.  What  here  they  sought  more  than  any- 
thing else  was  "freedom  to  worship  God."  It  is  wholly 
improbable  that  such  a  people  would  remain  long  without 
a  church. 

This  is  confirmed  by  a  writer  belonging  to  the  Episco- 
pal Church,  who,  speaking  of  Amwell  and  Hopewell  as 
early  as  17 18,  regrets  the  presence  of  so  many  Dissenters 
in  this  part  of  the  Colony.  The  Episcopal  Church  of 
Amwell,  St.  Andrews,  was  situated  near  the  present  vil- 
lage of  Ringoes,  where  the  old  academy  now  is.  It  was 
in  existence  as  early  as  1725,  having  been  organized  under 
a  charter  granted  by  the  Crown,  by  a  Missionary  of  the 
"Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign 
Parts."  Because  of  this  royal  favor,  and  the  bigotry  of 
Lord  Cornbury,  the  Episcopal  Church  was  founded  at 
this  early  day,  but  by  its  own  testimony  had  the  masses 


lo  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

of  the  people  against  it.  Such  testimony  is  of  great  value. 
Thirdly,  Nevin  in  his  History  of  the  Presbytery  of  Phil- 
adelphia, page  104,  states  that  Robert  Orr,  a  probationer 
from  Ireland  or  Scotland,  having  preached  sometime  for 
the  churches  at  Maidenhead  (Lawrence)  and  Hopewell 
(Pennington),  presented  his  credentials  to  Presbytery  in 
1 715.  They  were  approved,  and  a  call  being  presented 
by  Phillip  Ring,  he  was  ordained  at  Maidenhead  October 
20th,  1 715.  "His  field,"  says  the  historian,  "embraced 
the  ground  covered  by  Lawrence,  Pennington,  Trenton 
First  Church,  which  is  Ewing,  Trenton  City,  Titusville, 
and  perhaps  Amwell." 

Dr.  Sprague,  in  "Annals  of  the  American  Pulpit," 
contends  that  it  is  highly  probable  that  Orr  preached  at 
Amwell.  Webster,  in  his  History  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  America,  also  maintains  that  Orr  preached  at 
Amwell  during  his  pastorate  from  1715  to  171 9.  When 
we  remember  Mr.  Webster's  great  diligence  in  searching 
the  early  records  of  the  Church,  his  testimony  adds  much 
weight  to  the  reasons  given  for  believing  in  this  early  date 
for  the  existence  of  the  Amwell  Church.  But  taking 
either  date,  that  of  X737,  where  we  have  solid  ground 
from  the  mention  of  the  Church  in  the  Minutes  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  or  the  presumptive  date  ot 
1 7 18,  at  which  time  the  Dissenters  of  Amwell  are  men- 
tioned by  the  Episcopal  writer,  or  171 5,  under  Orr's  min- 
istry, the  Church  comes  into  existence  amid  events  ot 
great,  historic  interest,  and  may  rightfully  claim  a  place 
with  "the  beginnings  of  things"  in  this  country. 

Let  us  note  things  ecclesiastical.  The  first  Presbytery 
was  formed  in  1705  or  6.     The  first  Synod  was  formed 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  li 

out  of  the  four  Presbyteries,  in  17 17.  The  Adoptive  Act 
was  passed  in  1729.  By  this  act  the  Westminster  Stand- 
ards, Confession  of  Faith  and  Catechisms  were  made  the 
doctrinal  standards  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Amer- 
ica. Simple  as  the  record  of  this  event  is  in  the  minutes, 
there  never  has  been  an  act  passed  by  what  is  now  the 
Great  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  Amer- 
ica so  far  reaching  and  salutary  as  that  which  received 
"the  Westminster  Standards  as  containing  the  System  ot 
doctrine  taught  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,"  or  to  give  the 
exact  language  of  the  members  of  Synod,  which  "declared 
these  Standards  to  be  the  Confession  of  their  Faith.'* 
And,  again,  it  is  certainly  a  distinguished  honor,  at  this 
day,  to  have  been  a  charter  member  of  the  Presbytery  ot 
New  Brunswick  at  its  formation  in  1738.  This  Church 
likewise  has  the  honor  of  having  been  identified  with  the 
"beginnings  of  things"  of  historic  interest  in  the  State. 
Hunterdon  County  was  set  off  from  Burlington,  March 
nth,  1 713,  only  a  year  before  the  death  of  Queen  Ann, 
and  was  named  after  Brigadier-General  Robert  Hunter, 
who  was  Governor-General  of  the  Provinces  of  New  York 
and  New  Jersey  at  the  time. 

Hunterdon  County  then  extended  south  to  the  Assan- 
pink,  and  Trenton  was  the  county  seat.  It  contained  the 
territory  now  embraced  in  Morris,  Sussex,  Warren  and 
most  of  Mercer,  as  well  as  the  present  territory  of  Hun- 
terdon. The  boundary  lines  of  the  county  on  the  north 
and  northeast  were  fixed  in  1738.  Mercer  was  set  off  a 
century  later.  But  it  thus  appears  that  the  history  of  this 
Church  and  of  the  county  run  in  nearly  parallel  lines. 

From  its  origin  until  1728  the  county  was  deprived  of 


12  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

representation  in  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Colony. 
This  privilege  had  been  suspended  by  Queen  Ann  "until 
her  Majesty's  royal  pleasure  was  further  known."  In 
1728  King  George  declared  it  to  be  "his  royal  pleasure" 
"that  Hunterdon  County  should,  in  the  future,  have  two 
representatives." 

At  that  time  John  Reading,  a  member  of  this  congrega- 
tion, assuming  that  the  Church  had  an  existence  at  that 
date,  was  a  member  of  the  Council  of  the  Province  of 
New  Jersey,  having  been  appointed  to  the  office  in  1720. 
His  interests  would  lead  him  to  co-operate  with  the  repre- 
sentatives of  the  county  for  its  welfare  and  advancement. 

From  1689  to  1702  the  proprietors  of  the  Colony  of 
New  Jersey  were  vexed  and  distracted  by  the  many  rival 
claimants  for  the  Government.  Wearied  by  this  political 
intrigue,  these  proprietors  surrendered  their  rights  of  civil 
jurisdiction  to  the  Crown,  retaining  only  ownership  to 
the  soil.  Thereupon  the  Colony  was  accepted  by  her 
Majesty,  Queen  Anne,  and  united  to  that  of  New  York, 
with  Edward  Hyde,  known  as  Lord  Cornbury,  Governor 
of  both  Colonies.*  Cornbury  was  a  most  unworthy  Gov- 
ernor. The  colonists  found  themselves  in  a  worse  state 
than  before.  They  complained  of  the  Governor  to  the 
Queen.  They  described  him  as  "trifling,  mean  and  ex- 
travagant." 

On  this  complaint  the  Queen  removed  him.  He  was 
succeeded  by  eight  others  from  the  time  of  his  removal 
until   1738.     The  colonists  wearied  of  their  union  with 


*Smith's  New  Jersey,  p.  218,  and  Ridpath's  History  of 
United  States,  p.  208. 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  13 

New  York,  by  which  they  were  overshadowed,  and,  be- 
cause of  her  larger  numbers  and  influence,  that  Colony 
received  the  greater  part  of  the  Governor's  attention. 
From  1728  to  1738,  petition  followed  petition  on  the  part 
of  the  Assembly  for  a  separate  Governor  for  New  Jersey. 
It  is  evident  that  the  Ciuncillors  united  with  the  Assem- 
bly in  this  petition,  from  the  fact  stated  that  they  united 
with  them  "in  most  hearty  and  sincere  thanks  to  his 
Majesty,  George  the  Second,  for  having,  at  their  earnest 
Petition,  appointed  a  Person  to  govern  this  Province 
Solely."  This  "Address"  was  signed  "by  order  of  the 
Council." 

John  Hamilton,  Spr. 
And  by  order  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 

Joseph  Bennet,  Spr. 
[New  Jersey  Archives,  Series  VI,  p.  58.] 
Of  that  Council  John  Reading  was  an  honored  mem- 
ber, and  had  been  since  1720.  He  was  also  at  that  time 
a  member  of  this  congregation.  We  have  then  these  two 
interesting  facts,  viz.,  that  in  the  year  1738,  in  which  this 
Church  was  received  as  a  corporate  member  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  New  Brunswick,  a  commission  arrived,  appoint- 
ing Lewis  Morris  Governor  of  New  Jersey,  and  separa- 
ting the  Colony  in  its  government  from  that  of  New 
York.  Here,  again,  this  Church  and  the  State,  with  Mr. 
Reading  connected  with  both,  move  forward  on  synchron- 
ous lines  to  that  common  date,  1738,  when,  under  a  new 
administration  they  were  better  fitted  for  their  respective 
spheres  of  usefulness.  Who  were  the  people  of  the  Church 
at  that  early  period?  While  this  inquiry  cannot  be  fully 
answered,  there  are  some  very  important  facts  to  gratify 


14  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

us,  gathered  from  the  memorial  stones  in  our  cemetery 
and  from  family  records. 

There  are  families  in  the  Church  at  the  present  time 
whose  ancestors  reach  back  to  her  earliest  days,  and 
whose  first  records  are  on  these  tombstone  memorials. 
We  have  with  us  other  families  with  such  memorials 
going  back  to  nearly  the  same  date,  and  when  we  examine 
the  plots  we  find  near  these  graves  others  unmarked  and 
undated,  but  bearing  evidence  of  being  older  graves,  and 
hence  showing  that  these  families  have  also  been  on  the 
ground  from  the  earliest  days  of  the  Church.  Then 
again  there  are  many  old  graves  marked  with  names  no 
longer  represented  on  the  Church  records. 

Among  the  oldest  graves  in  our  cemetery  we  mention 
the  following:  Jacob  Mattison,  died  December  7th,  1804, 
aged  95  years.  Ann,  wife  of  Jacob  Mattison,  died  June 
30th,  1 76 1,  aged  52  years,  5  months,  which  makes  the  birth 
of  both  in  1709.  Joseph  Mattison,  died  August  26th, 
I745>  aged  34,  and  Ann  Bishop,  wife  of  Joseph  Matti- 
son, died  May,  1748,  aged  31  years.  The  Mattison 
family  furnished  several  men  for  the  Army  of  the  Revo- 
lution. One  of  these  was  the  ancestor  of  Mrs.  Van  Fleet, 
widow  of  the  late  Vice-Chancellor  Van  Fleet.  The  Hoag- 
lands  are  one  of  our  oldest  families,  of  which  Jacob 
Hoagland  is  still  with  us  as  a  member  of  the  Church. 
John  Hoagland,  born  1761,  and  died  1842,  aged  81  years. 
Derrick  Hoagland  was  the  first  representative  of  the 
Church  in  Presbytery,  of  whom  we  have  any  record.  He 
heads  the  list  of  elders  of  the  Church,  and  was  commis- 
sioner to  Presbytery  at  Bound  Brook  May  30th,  1753. 
He  was  a  prominent  man  in  the  affairs  of  the  township 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  13 

during  that  early  period.  John  Brown,  a  native  of  Bris- 
tol, England,  born  1721,  died  March,  1797,  aged  76 
years.  Garret  Schenck,  born  1716  or  171 9,  died  1791. 
His  wife,  Mary,  born  1720,  died  1778.  William  Schenck, 
born  1727,  and  died  1806,  aged  79  years.  Captain  John 
Schenck,  born  1750,  and  died  1823,  aged  73  years.  See 
Appendix  2,  p.  284.  Another  member  of  this  family  is 
Captain  Garret  Schenck,  born  1782,  and  died  1858,  aged 
76  years.  Up  to  a  very  recent  date  the  Schencks  were 
numerous  on  the  rolls  of  this  Church.  At  present  the 
family  is  represented  by  only  one  family,  viz.,  Mr.  Rhut- 
son  Schenck,  and  his  wife. 

The  grave  of  Aaron  Van  Doren  is  found  in  the  ceme- 
tery. He  was  born  April  8th,  1730,  and  died  September 
30th,  1792,  which  dates  make  him  to  have  been  one  of  the 
old  families  of  this  congregation,  but  the  family  is  no 
longer  represented  among  us.  The  same  is  true  of  Jacob 
Kershaw.  He  was  born  1744,  and  died  18 18,  seventy- 
four  years  of  age.  He  is  the  representative  of  a  large 
family  here  in  the  early  days  of  the  Church,  but  is  no 
longer  found  among  our  people. 

THE  CASE  FAMILY. 

Subsequent  records  will  make  frequent  mention  of  the 
Cases.  Dr.  Mott,  in  his  valuable  history  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  of  Flemington,  says:  John  Philip  Case 
came  to  this  country  from  Germany  in  1738,  and  pur- 
chased from  Penn  a  tract  of  land  on  which  he  built  the 
first  house  in  the  neighborhood  of  Flemington.  The  date 
is  slightly  in  error,  both  for  the  arrival  of  the  family  and 
the  purchase. 


i6  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Chambers,  in  his  history  of  the  Germans  in  Hunterdon 
County,  places  the  arrival  of  the  Cases  in  1730.  And  1 
have  in  my  possession  a  deed  conveying  a  tract  of  land 
from  the  same  Penn  plantation  to  one  William  Anderson 
in  the  year  1737.  The  deed  describes  Anderson's  pur- 
chase as  joining  lands  of  one  Philip  Kase.  The  convey- 
ance w^as  made  by  Thomas  Penn,  for  himself  and  his 
brothers,  John  and  Richard.  The  signatures  w^ere  taken 
March  ist,  1737,  by  John  Reading,  ''one  of  his  Majesty's 
Commissioners."  This  document  has  additional  interest 
because  it  bears  the  signature  of  John  Reading,  as  well  as 
that  of  Thomas  Penn.  The  Cases  have  been  connected 
with  the  Church  all  through  its  history.  Several  families 
of  this  name  are  now  in  the  congregation,  although  Mrs. 
Martin  Bellis  and  Mrs.  Robert  Smith,  daughters  of 
Lewis  Case,  are  the  only  communicant  members  of  the 
Church  at  the  present  time. 

The  family  was  represented  by  Jacob  Case,  born  Au- 
gust nth,  1765,  and  died  January  4th,  1850,  and  John 
L.  Case,  born  January  24th,  1806,  and  died  September 
23d,  1883,  and  more  recently  by  Mr.  Lewis  Case,  who, 
during  my  pastorate,  moved  to  Flemington.  At  different 
periods  the  family  has  rendered  efficient  service  to  the 
Church. 

THE  HOLCOMBES. 

Another  of  our  old  families  is  that  of  the  Holcombcs. 

John  Holcombe,  of  Abington,  Pa.,  purchased  a  tract 
of  land  November  i6th,  1705,  of  one  Richard  Wilson. 
This  land,  then  a  wilderness,  is  now  covered  in  part  by 
the  borough  of  Lambertville.    At  that  time  the  name  for 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  17 

the  village  was  Corryell's  Ferry.  In  1724  John  Hol- 
combe  was  appointed  one  of  the  freeholders  for  Amwell 
township.  In  1725  he  was  collector.  In  1726  he  was 
again  freeholder,  showing  him  to  have  been  a  man  of 
affairs  in  the  early  days  of  the  township. 

John  Holcombe  bequeathed  to  his  son  Richard  the  farm 
he  bought  of  John  Ways.  It  was  situated  just  north  of 
the  borough.  Richard  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 
He  also  entertained  General  Washington  in  the  stone 
house  erected  by  his  father  on  the  farm  just  mentioned. 
This  was  just  before  the  battle  of  Trenton.  The  early 
Holcombes  were  Quakers.  Tradition  says  they  came 
from  Devonshire,  England,  and  not  long  after  the  arrival 
of  W^illiam  Penn. 

From  John  Holcombe  are  descended  all  the  Holcombes 
in  this  part  of  New  Jersey.  During  the  early  days  of 
this  Church  Lambertville  was  a  part  of  the  congregation. 

Richard  Holcombe  and  Hannah  Emley,  his  wife,  were 
the  parents  of  Miss  Ann  Holcombe,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Furman  Romine,  grandfather  of  Charles  Romine,  and 
great-great-grandfather  of  Dr.  George  L.  Romine,  of 
Lambertville,  with  whom  Mrs.  John  Emiley  Holcombe 
is  connected.  I  may  add  to  this  Mrs.  Holcombe  was 
Miss  Emma  A.  Skillman. 

The  Church  at  Mount  Airy,  or  Amwell  II,  was  organ- 
ized in  1754,  by  our  first  pastor,  Rev.  Eliah  Byram. 

The  Church  at  Lambertville  was  organized  much  later. 
Both  of  these  Churches  contain  families  originally  con- 
nected with  our  Church. 

The    Holcombes   have   long   been    prominent   in    this 

Mother  Church,  also  in  these  two  Churches  of  later  date. 
2 


i8  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Trustee  Peter  Q.  Holcombe  and  his  brother,  Deacon 
John  Emiley  Holcombe,  are  son  of  John  Holcombe,  an 
honored  elder  and  Sabbath  School  Superintendent  of  our 
Church.  And  the  late  esteemed  Mrs.  Caleb  F.  Quick, 
and  Mrs.  John  Quick,  both  very  active  and  useful  mem- 
bers of  this  Church,  w^ere  members  of  the  Holcombe 
family. 

THE    CORYELLS. 

The  Coryells,  an  old  family  of  Lambertville,  were  in 
this  Church  during  its  early  history.  After  the  Revoca- 
tion of  the  Edict  of  Nantes  in  1685  they  came  to  this 
country,  landing  at  Perth  Amboy.  They  settled  soon 
after  that  near  Dunellen  and  Newmarket.  Their  church 
connection  was  with  the  First  Reformed  Church,  of  Som- 
erville,  where  many  of  their  children  were  baptized.  In 
1732  John  Emanuel  Coryell  came  to  Amwell  and  pur- 
chased a  large  tract  of  land,  on  part  of  which  Lambert- 
ville is  located.  He  made  other  purchases  in  1737.  In 
1743  his  name  appears  as  one  of  the  witnesses  to  the  will 
of  John  Holcombe.  In  1748  he  is  named  among  the 
managers  of  the  ''Amwell  Lottery,  gotten  up  to  raise 
funds  to  finish  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  to  purchase 
a  parsonage."  At  that  time  the  family  had  control  of  the 
ferry  at  Lambertville,  which  connected  the  king's  high- 
way from  Philadelphia  to  New  York.  This  family  had 
the  honor  of  aiding  Washington  crossing  the  Delaware 
and  in  preparation  for  the  movement  on  the  Hessians  at 
the  battle  of  Trenton. 

After  the  organization  of  Amwell  II  Church  at  Mount 
Airy,  the  Coryells  were  in  connection  with  that  Church 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  19 

and  so  continued,  as  did  many  of  the  Holcombes,  until 
the  organization  of  the  Church  at  Lambertville  in  1822. 
From  that  time  onward  the  Coryells  have  been  identified 
with  the  Lambertville  Church. 

THE  STOUTS. 

The  Stouts,  said  to  be  one  of  the  largest  families  in  the 
United  States,  have  been  identified  with  the  Church 
throughout  its  entire  history,  and  they  may  be  found  to- 
day in  nearly  every  department  of  human  industry  and  in 
almost  every  section  of  the  country.  On  the  subscription 
paper  of  February,  1753,  we  not  only  have  the  names  of 
James  and  Jonathan  Stout  among  the  subscribers,  but 
James  Stout  is  one  oif  the  four  persons  named  in  that 
paper  for  receiving  the  subscriptions.  This  paper  is  our 
oldest  written  document. 

The  name  occurs  in  many,  if  not  all  the  subscription 
papers  of  the  Church  during  that  century.  Because  of 
the  vast  numbers  of  the  family  it  will  be  impossible  to 
give  anything  approaching  a  record  of  it  in  this  history. 
But  because  of  its  early  connection  with  the  Church  and 
intermarriage  with  a  large  number  of  its  families,  we 
must  repeat  a  few  of  its  widely  known  facts  of  the  fam- 
ily's history.  A  history  of  the  family  was  printed  at  the 
Herald  office,  Hopewell,  N.  J.,  in  1878,  which  was  writ- 
ten in  1823.  This  part  of  the  history  has  since  been  en- 
larged, and  the  whole  referred  to,  or  copied  in  part  by 
subsequent  writers.  The  first  of  the  name  in  America 
was  Richard  Stout,  who  was  born  in  Nottinghamshire, 
England,  and  was  the  son  of  John  Stout.  Richard,  when 
quite  young,   left  home  and  went  aboard  a  war  vessel 


20  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

and  served  in  the  British  navy  for  seven  years.  He  got 
his  discharge  from  this  service  at  New  Amsterdam,  nov^r 
New  York. 

At  or  near  the  same  time  a  ship  left  Amsterdam,  in 
Holland,  for  New  Amsterdam.  She  was  driven  by  the 
wind  out  of  her  course,  and  landed  near  Middletown, 
Monmouth  County,  N.  J.  The  vessel  was  freighted  with 
passengers,  who  with  great  difficulty  reached  the  shore. 
Here  they  were  met  with  hostile  Indians,  who  murdered 
or  thought  they  had,  all  who  landed.  One  woman,  Pene- 
lope Van  Princes,  whose  husband  had  been  killed  by  the 
Indians,  regained  consciousness  after  the  Indians  had 
gone  away.  She  crawled  to  a  place  of  hiding,  where, 
after  she  remained  for  a  short  time,  she  was  found  by  an 
Indian  of  a  friendly  disposition,  who  cared  for  her  until 
she  recovered  from  her  wounds.  Then  he  took  her  in  his 
canoe  to  New  Amsterdam  and  sold  her  to  the  Dutch. 
Legendary  as  this  appears,  this  narrative  is  considered 
genuine  history  by  the  Stouts  themselves.  The  man  Stout 
of  whom  we  have  spoken  and  this  widow  Van  Princes 
became  acquainted  in  New  Amsterdam,  were  married, 
and  soon  after  went  to  Middletown,  where  Penelope  had 
lost  her  first  husband.  This  was  in  1648.  At  that  time 
there  were  but  six  families  in  the  settlement,  including 
themselves.  From  this  couple  we  have  the  Stouts  of  this 
country. 

As  I  have  said  you  will  find  them  on  almost  every 
record  of  our  Church's  history.  Their  name  is  found  in 
the  old  cemetery  of  the  Church.  They  will  be  found  on 
the  roster  of  the  Army  of  the  Revolution.  You  will  meet 
with  it  to-day  in  the  different  communities  to  which  you 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  21 

may  go.    We  shall  meet  them  in  subsequent  parts  of  our 
history  and  find  them  in  places  of  usefulness  and  honor. 

THE    CHAMBERLAINS. 

Elder  James  Prall  Chamberlain  represents  another  of 
our  old  families.  Also  a  cousin,  Lewis  Chamberlain. 
Elder  Chamberlain  was  born  December,  1825,  and  is  the 
son  of  Lewis  Chamberlain,  born  December  18,  1797,  and 
died  November  24th,  1830.  He  and  Lewis  first  men- 
tioned are  grandsons  of  Lewis  Chamberlain,  born  1749, 
and  died  January  15th,  181 2.  They  are  great-grandsons 
of  Lewis  and  Leucretia  Chamberlain.  It  is  not  known 
when  this  earliest  Lewis  was  born,  but  he  died  about 
1762.  A  family  record  in  existence  says  that  Leucretia 
his  wife,  was  born  in  1709,  and  died  in  18 12,  making  her 
103  years  old.  Another  record,  however,  makes  her  age 
a  trifle  less  than  one  hundred  years. 

This  family  of  the  Chamberlins  lived  on  lands  now 
owned  in  part  by  the  two  Chamberlins  first  mentioned. 
The  farm  of  Martin  Hoffman,  lying  between  the  two,  is 
also  a  part  of  the  original  tract.  Subsequent  history  will 
speak  of  the  official  relation  of  James  P.  Chamberlin  to 
this  Church. 

THE    HILLS. 

The  Hill  family,  well  represented  in  the  Church  at  the 
present  time,  appears  on  our  earliest  records. 

On  the  subscription  paper  of  1753  we  have  the  names 
of  Jonathan  and  Samuel  Hill.  The  names  occur  in  the 
same  order  on  papers  of  a  later  date.  As  the  name  of 
Jonathan  disappears,  the  name  of  Isaac  occurs  and  con- 


22  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

tinues  down  to  1789,  when  we  have  the  name  of  Richard. 
We  have  noi  family  record  to  assure  us  that  Jonathan 
was  the  father  of  Samuel.  They  may  have  been  brothers, 
but  more  probably  it  was  father  and  son,  as  Samuel  is 
believed  to  be  the  father  of  Isaac,  because  in  each  case 
they  stand  in  the  same  order.  Up  to  1789  Samuel  and 
Isaac  are  found  on  the  subscription  papers  of  the  Church 
giving  liberally  for  its  support. 

Isaac  Hill  was  the  father  of  Joakim,  the  maker  of  the 
old  fashioned  eight  day  brass  clock,  still  highly  prized  by 
those  fortunate  enough  to  possess  one.  In  1791  Isaac 
and  Samuel  joined  in  the  movement  to  establish  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  at  Flemington.  After  this  they  became 
useful  members  of  that  congregation,  Samuel  being  for 
several  years  a  trustee  and  Isaac  an  elder.  Other  sons  of 
Isaac  were  William  and  Thomas.  They  remained  with 
the  congregation  of  the  Mother  Church.  Thomas  lived 
on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Whitefield  Case.  His  chil- 
dren were  Joseph,  William,  Theodore  and  Calvin,  and 
Ara,  wife  of  Clinton  Blackwell.  Joseph  resided  on  the 
homestead  farm  and  his  family  attended,  and  some  were 
members  of  the  Church  during  my  pastorate.  His  son, 
George,  was  one  of  our  active  trustees.  William  was 
himself  a  member  of  the  Church  and  also  several  mem- 
bers of  his  family. 

It  should  be  said  in  honor  of  the  abiding  consistency 
of  his  esteemed  wife  that  according  to  a  concurrent  opinion 
of  friends  and  neighbors,  Mrs.  William  Hill  exerted  the 
influence  more  than  any  other  that  led  her  husband  and 
several  of  her  children  to  follow  her  example  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Saviour.    Of  these,  Ira  and  Miss  Bessie,  united 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  23 

with  the  Church  during  my  pastorate,  and  later  I  was 
called  upon  to^  perform  the  funeral  services  for  both 
Joseph  and  William.  And  what  was  more  sad,  after  re- 
tiring from  the  pastorate,  to  render  the  same  service  for 
Ira,  who  became  entangled  in  the  machinery  of  the  mill 
and  was  killed.  Bessie,  after  serving  the  Church  many 
years  during  my  pastorate  and  afterwards  as  organist  and 
leader  of  the  choir,  died  early  in  life,  ''her  sun  going  down 
while  it  was  yet  day,"  and  I  was  called  to  officiate  at  her 
funeral.  Alvin,  son  of  William,  became  an  elder  of  the 
Church,  an  office  for  which  he  was  well  fitted. 

Ara  (Mrs.  Blackwell),  was  one  of  our  most  faithful 
Christian  women,  ready  at  all  times  to  serve  the  Church 
and  the  Master  in  the  cause  of  missions,  in  whatever  her 
hand  found  to  do.  And,  again,  for  her,  the  funeral  service 
was  rendered  after  I  had  left  the  Church.  So  we  meet 
"at  the  closing  scene,"  and  say  farewell  "until  we  meet  be- 
yond the  river." 

THE  SUTPHINS. 

Deacon  Lewis  Sutphin,  with  his  wife  and  children, 
are  members  of  one  of  the  original  families  of  this  Church. 
They  are  represented  throughout  the  entire  history  of 
the  Church.  Members  of  the  family  are  found  on  the 
Church's  oldest  document.  They  can  be  traced  back  as 
follows:  The  Sutphins,  or  Zutphens,  may  still  be  found 
at  Zutphen,  a  town  and  fortress  on  the  Yssel  in  Holland. 
There  the  Zutphens  of  Holland  can  trace  back  their 
family  record  for  a  thousand  years,  and  even  before  this, 
to  Denmark,  whence  they  came  with  the  "Northmen"  to 
Holland. 


24  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Derlck,  or  Direk  Janse  Van  Zutphen,  married  Lysbeth 
Van  Nuys,  stepdaughter  of  Aneke  Janse  Van  Nuys.  Her 
real  name  was  Lisbeth  Janse  Jacobs. 

Derick  Janse  and  his  wife  came  to  America  and  settled 
at  New  Amsterdam,  Long  Island,  in  1651.  Their  chil- 
dren were  Jacob,  born  1684,  John,  born  1686,  Derick, 
in  1688,  and  Guisbert,  in  1690.  That  part  of  the  family 
at  present  connected  with  the  Amwell  Church  trace  back 
to  Jacob.  Jacob  married  Engethe  Bennet,  and  in  1717 
moved  to  Freehold,  Monmouth  County,  N.  J.  Among 
the  children  of  Jacob  was  his  son,  John,  born  171 1,  who 
died  1784.  John  married  Penelope  Stout,  daughter  of 
John  Stout,  and  granddaughter  of  the  John  Stout  who 
was  the  son  of  Richard  Stout  and  Penelope  Van  Princes, 
his  wife,  whose  tragic  history  has  been  given.  These  per- 
sons were  married  in  1648. 

The  son  of  this  John  Sutphin  was  Derick,  born  July 
14,  1743,  and  died  1831.  Derick,  or  more  probably  his 
father,  John,  while  Derick  was  yet  very  young,  moved 
from  Monmouth  to  Hunterdon  County  and  settled  in 
Amwell  Township.  He  married  Ann  Chamberlain  in 
1767.  The  ceremony  took  place  in  the  Amwell  First 
Church  and  was  performed  by  Rev.  William  Kirkpatrick, 
third  pastor  of  the  Church.  This  is  the  only  marriage  in 
the  Church  up  to  this  time  of  which  we  have  record. 

Among  the  children  of  Derick  Sutphin  and  Ann 
Chamberlain  was  Arthur,  born  March  20th,  1785,  who 
died  January  28th,  i860.  Arthur  Sutphin  married  Mary 
Cox.  One  of  their  children  was  Deacon  Lewis  Sutphin, 
who  was  born  June  3d,  1829.  The  death  of  Lewis  Sut- 
phin July  2d,    1898,  will  be  more  fully  noticed  in  its 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  25 

proper  place.  Lewis  Sutphin  married  Ann  Waldron, 
who  was  born  January  23d,  1842.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  Samuel  Waldron,  born  August  6th,  1808,  and  grand- 
daughter of  Jerome  Waldron,  born  November  ist,  1760. 
His  son,  William.,  was  an  elder  in  this  Church.  To  this 
brief  sketch,  tracing  an  officer  in  this  Church,  should  be 
added  that  members  of  the  Sutphin  family  also  settled  in 
Somerset  County.  From  this  branch  have  sprung  some 
very  prominent  men,  among  whom  was  Rev.  Morris  Sut- 
phen,  D.  D.,  who  was  with  me  in  Princeton  College  and 
Seminary,  and  who  occupied  some  of  our  leading  pulpits. 
His  son.  Dr.  Paul  Sutphen,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  is  fol- 
lowing well  in  the  footsteps  of  his  honored  father.  An- 
other of  this  branch  is  the  celebrated  oculist.  Dr.  Sutphen, 
of  Newark,  N.  J.  Jacob  Sutphen  moved  from  Somerset 
County  to  Amwell  about  1700,  and  settled  along  the 
Neshanic,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Robert  Cain. 

On  the  old  subscription  paper  of  1753  we  have  the 
names  as  written  by  themselves  of  Jacob  Sutphen  and 
Derick  Sutfin.  Many  others  of  the  name  are  settled  in 
nearby  places,  but  they  do  not  have  a  record  in  these 
pages. 

THE  GRIGGS  FAMILY. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Griggs  and  their  daughters. 
Belle  and  Nellie,  all  church  members,  together  with 
younger  children  not  members  of  the  Church,  represent 
another  of  our  old  families.  With  this  family  there  have 
been  periods  of  interruption,  but  during  the  first  forty  or 
fifty  years  of  the  Church's  history,  they  were  very  active 
in  all  its  undertakings.     During  these  years  their  record 


26  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

is  similar  to  that  of  the  family  of  the  Hills,  of  which  we 
have  just  spoken.  In  proceeding  with  the  record  of  this 
family,  I  have  the  satisfaction  of  obtaining  a  part  of  my 
statement  from  two  members  of  the  family,  viz.,  Mr. 
Samuel  Griggs  of  the  Church  and  a  Miss  Griggs,  of 
Flemington,  whose  independent  accounts  are  in  full 
accord. 

Samuel  Griggs  is  the  son  of  Aaron,  the  grandson  of 
Samuel,  and  the  great-grandson  of  Joakim  Griggs.  Sam- 
uel, of  our  Church,  had  two  uncles,  Daniel  and  John. 
The  Griggs'  home,  that  is,  where  Samuel  the  elder  lived, 
was  on  the  farm,  a  mile  and  a  half  east  of  Flemington,  or 
between  Flemington  and  Reaville,  where  Mr.  Theodore 
Hill  now  resides.  There  is  a  family  burying  ground  on 
this  farm.  During  the  lifetime  of  the  elder  Samuel,  the 
family  became  identified  with  the  Church  at  Flemington, 
in  fact  were  instrumental  in  its  organization.  As  Dr. 
Mott  had  needed  to  refer  to  the  records  of  Amwell  in 
writing  the  history  of  the  Flemington  Church,  so,  to 
complete  our  record,  we  must  refer  to  the  history  of  the 
Church  at  Flemington. 

From  Dr.  Mott's  history  we  learn  that  Daniel  Griggs 
united  on  confession  with  the  Church  at  Flemington  in 
1816,  while  a  "Mrs.  Griggs"  is  found  on  a  list  of  mem- 
bers in  1 8 10,  previous  to  which  date  the  records  of  Session 
of  the  Flemington  Church  had  not  been  regularly  kept. 
Also  that  John  Griggs  and  Mrs.  Catharine  Griggs  united 
in  1834,  sr^d  Aaron  Griggs  and  Margaret  Griggs  in  1838. 
In  the  same  record  we  find  that  John  Griggs  was  ordained 
an  elder  in  1838,  holding  the  office  until  his  death  in  1872. 

I  was  personally  acquainted  with  Elder  John  Griggs, 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  27 

as  during  the  early  forties  he  moved  to  Frenchtown  and 
resided  there  for  one  or  two  years.  This  was  at  the  time 
when  the  Sabbath  School  in  Frenchtown  had  just  been 
organized  by  a  governess  in  the  family  of  Louis  M. 
Prevost,  Esq.  Sometimes  Mr.  Griggs,  and  at  other  times 
my  father,  would  come  to  the  Sabbath  School  and  open 
it  with  prayer,  a  service  much  appreciated  by  all. 

In  the  same  history  Samuel  Griggs,  the  grandfather,  is 
named  among  the  trustees  of  the  Flemington  Church  in 
18 14,  17,  21  and  25.  At  some  date  in  this  period  not 
known  by  my  informant,  Daniel  Griggs  moved  to  Sussex 
County  ''and  settled  on  a  tract  of  land  belonging  to  the 
family."  Here,  the  Hon.  John  W.  Griggs,  the  most  dis- 
tinguished member  of  the  family,  grew  to  manhood.  It  is 
well  known  that  he  was  elected  Governor  of  New  Jersey 
and  that  during  his  term  of  office  he  was  appointed  Attor- 
ney General  by  President  McKinley.  He  discharged  the 
duties  of  the  high  office  with  credit  toi  himself  and  to  the 
satisfaction  of  his  superior,  to  whose  regret  he  left  the 
cabinet  that  he  might  resume  the  practice  of  law.  So  if 
not  in  one  of  her  sons,  yet  in  one  of  her  grandsons,  the 
Church  is  honored,  by  having  a  representative  in  the  high- 
est councils  of  the  nation,  as  also  another  Governor 
of  the  State.  In  many  particulars  we  have  gone 
beyond  the  information  furnished  by  members  of 
this  family.  But  many  facts  remain  to  be  mentioned.  A 
paper  was  circulated,  bearing  date  June  23d,  1791,  stating 
why  it  was  desirable  to  form  a  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Flemington.  This  petition  was  circulated  with  the 
known  purpose  of  presenting  it  to  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Brunswick. 


28  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

The  first  name  on  this  petition  is  that  of  John  Griggs. 
It  also  contains  the  name  of  Samuel  Griggs  and  Joakim 
Griggs.  Documents  in  our  possession  show  that  these 
persons  all  resided  in  what  was  popularly  known  as  the 
"North  Side,"  meaning  north  of  Neshanic,  the  latter  two 
being  identified  with  the  farm  east  of  Flemington.  A 
comparison  of  the  dates  here  given  shows  a  period  of 
eighty-one  years  between  the  death  of  Elder  John  Griggs 
and  the  signing  of  this  petition,  which  makes  it  plain  that 
the  John  Griggs  here  signing  is  not  Elder  John  Griggs. 
But  the  members  of  the  family,  to  whom  I  am  indebted 
for  the  relation  of  the  different  members  of  the  family 
above  given,  knew  nothing  of  this  John  Griggs.  But 
from  salary  lists  and  other  subscription  papers,  and  a  list 
of  pew  holders  in  the  Am  well  Church,  some  additional 
information  may  be  obtained  and  also  another  name.  On 
a  salary  list  dated  April  23d,  1779,  there  are  many  sub- 
scriptions of  produce  as  well  as  money.  Of  this  we  shall 
speak  at  the  proper  time,  but  now  to  add  to  our  history  of 
the  family  under  consideration. 

One  of  the  subscriptions  is  that  of  Thomas  Reading; 
who  delivered  two  and  one-half  bushels  of  corn  at  the 
mill  of  John  Griggs  for  Rev.  Mr.  Warford.  And  Charles 
Reading  delivered  one  and  one-half  bushels  of  wheat  at 
the  same  mill  for  Mr.  Warford  also.  And  be  it  remem- 
bered, in  passing,  that  these  two  persons  were  among  the 
prominent  and  active  members  of  the  Church  at  the  time. 

In  1784  a  subscription  paper  was  circulated  in  order 
to  raise  funds  for  erecting  a  new  meeting  house  in  place 
of  the  two  existing  under  the  pastoral  charge  of  Mr. 
Warford.    This  was  one  of  several  attempts  made  to  get 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  29 

the  Church  nearer  to  the  people  in  and  about  Flemington. 
Though  liberal  subscriptions  were  made,  the  object  failed, 
and  among  the  subscribers  we  have  the  names  of  John 
and  Joakim  Griggs.  A  little  presumption  may  be  in- 
dulged in  here  in  two  respects.  First,  that  the  mill  of 
John  Griggs  was  on  the  South  Branch  near  the  home  of 
the  Readings  or  near  Flemington  Junction.  Second,  that 
John  and  Joakim  Griggs  were  father  and  son,  or,  if  not, 
then  brothers.  Either  relationship  would  be  possible  with 
dates  given,  and  others  yet  to  be  produced.  But  it  is 
evident  that  Joakim  and  Samuel  Griggs  were  more  deeply 
interested  in  the  Amwell  First  Church  than  this  John 
Griggs.  As  already  noticed  their  names  and  that  of  John 
were  on  the  petition  of  1791,  asking  for  the  formation  of 
a  Church  at  Flemington.  At  the  time  evidently  the  two 
mentioned  were  members  of  the  Amwell  Church,  but  it 
is  not  so  clear  about  this  John.  They  were  regular  sup- 
porters of  that  Church,  both  being  on  the  subscription 
papers  from  1779 — the  earliest  one  preserved  up  to  1791 
— and  on  that  to  pay  supplies  for  89  to  91,  as  at  this  period 
there  was  no  pastor.  There  is  preserved  one  list  of  pews 
in  the  Amwell  Church  located  and  numbered.  In  the  pew 
"southeast"  of  the  pulpit  No.  2,  Joakim  Griggs  has  "2" 
(presumably  sittings)   and  Samuel  Griggs  has  "2." 

Earlier  yet,  we  have  the  name  of  Daniel  Griggs  on  the 
subscription  of  1753 — our  oldest  Church  document  in 
existence.  The  purpose  of  this  subscription  was  to  pro- 
cure a  parsonage. 

It  will  be  perceived  from  the  above  that  we  have  a 
Daniel  Griggs  and  a  John  Griggs,  not  included  in  our 
information  derived  from  members  of  the  family.     That 


30  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

these  two  persons  belong  to  an  earlier  generation,  or  to 
two  generations  in  the  same  family,  is  very  probable. 
Evidence  for  this  is  their  interest  in  the  same  Church, 
and  especially  the  recurrence  of  the  same  Christian  name 
in  later  generations.  The  date  of  1753  would  allow  this 
Daniel  Griggs  to  have  been  the  father  of  John  Griggs 
of  1779  and  1785,  and  grandfather  of  Joakim,  providing 
he  was  an  old  man  at  the  time;  or  this  John  and  Joakim 
may  have  been  brothers  or  cousins.  Be  that  as  it  may, 
we  find  the  names,  presumably  of  one  family,  on  record 
from  1753  to  the  end  of  the  century.  And  we  find  the 
names  of  the  same  family  at  the  present  time.  There  is 
evidence  of  devotion  to  the  interests  of  Church  all  through 
her  earlier  history  and  we  have  decided  evidence  of  the 
same  interest  on  the  part  of  this  family  in  all  departments 
of  the  Church's  claims  to-day. 

Note. — The  above  statements  of  this  family,  as  well 
as  similar  ones  of  some  of  the  other  families,  are  here 
recorded  as  important  facts  in  this  history,  although  they 
are  not  as  clearly  digested  as  we  wish  had  been  the  case. 
But  they  are  gathered  from  perishable  papers,  not  easily 
accessible  to  any  who  may  be  personally  interested,  and 
here  inserted  for  their  preservation. 

THE  HENRYS. 

Another  family  on  the  ground  in  the  early  days  of  the 
Church's  history  is  that  of  Michael  Henry.  Although 
the  name  has  not  appeared  on  our  records  for  many  years, 
Mr.  Henry  deserves  a  place  in  this  history  as  among  the 
first  members  of  the  Church.  In  fact,  his  name  stands 
second  in  the  roll  of  our  elders.    And  from  the  Minutes 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  31 

of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick  we  have  the  inter- 
esting fact  that  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  in 
Amwell,  which  was  in  the  second  year  of  its  organization, 
October  nth,  1739,  the  Presbytery  held  its  first  session 
in  the  evening  of  that  day  at  the  house  of  Michael  Henry. 

His  name  occurs  again  as  one  of  the  managers  of  a  lot- 
tery held  in  1749,  for  the  purpose  of  raising  funds  to 
"finish  the  Presbyterian  meeting  house  and  to  purchase  a 
parsonage."  We  next  have  his  name  on  that  noted  sub- 
scription paper  of  1753,  where  we  find  Mr.  Henry  bear- 
ing his  part  in  raising  funds  for  that  same  parsonage. 
The  name  in  his  will,  which  is  on  record  at  Trenton,  is 
spelled  Henarie,  and  this  spelling  occurs  on  a  duplicate  of 
the  subscription  paper  above  mentioned. 

In  1756  Michael  Henry  is  named  in  the  records  of  the 
Presbytery,  among  the  elders  in  attendance  at  that  meet- 
ing. 

These  facts  have  been  long  familiar  to  all  who  have 
had  to  do  with  the  Amwell  Church,  and  their  importance 
gladly  recognized  in  this  history.  Among  the  new  facts 
more  recently  discovered  was  the  burial  place  of  Mr. 
Henry.  To  this  is  to  be  added  the  more  interesting  fact 
that  Michael  Henry  is  the  ancestor  of  my  friend  and 
classmate,  the  Rev.  J.  Addison  Henry,  D.  D.,  of  Phila- 
delphia. The  remains  of  Michael  Henry  are  interred  in 
a  private  burying  plot,  known  as  that  of  the  Rowe  family. 
What  relation,  if  any,  existed  between  the  Rowe  family 
and  Mr.  Henry,  I  have  not  been  able  to  discover.  The 
plot  referred  to  is  about  twenty  feet  square,  inclosed  by  a 
common  fence,  and  is  situated  between  the  South  Branch 
of  the  Raritan  and  the  Flemington  branch  of  the  Central 


32  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Railroad  of  New  Jersey.  Its  location  is  near  the  village 
of  Three  Bridges,  Hunterdon  County.  Four  members  of 
the  Rowe  family  are  buried  here,  which  are  marked  by  a 
small  granite  obelisk.  These  are  Jacob,  who  died  Feb- 
ruary 15th,  1 85 1,  Christopher,  who  died  April  25th, 
1833,  aged  77  years,  Ida,  wife  of  Christopher,  died  Oc- 
tober 31st,  1839,  aged  81  years,  Abraham,  son  of  Chris- 
topher and  Ida,  who  died  October  12th,  1790,  aged  3 
years.  The  other  two  graves  are  those  of  Michael  Henry 
and  Jean,  his  wife.  They  are  marked  by  small  brown 
stone  slabs  bearing  the  inscriptions  as  follows: 

Here 

lie 

the   Precious   Remains 

of 

Michael   Henry  Who  Died 

December  1760  Aged  77. 

The  truly  Pious  Faithful,  Loving  Friend 

Who  persevered  in  every  Christian  Virtue  to  the  End. 

With  other  testimony  to  his  worth. 

On  another  and  similar  slab  we  have: 

Here 

lie 

the  Precious  Remains 

of 

Jean  Henry,  wife  of  Michael  Henry 

Who  died  June  —  1761  aged  67  years. 

The  accomplished  Friend,  ye  Christian,   Mother,  Wife, 

Shone  with  ye  brightest  Charms  thro'  all  her  Life. 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  33 

Quaint  as  are  these  inscriptions  we  look  upon  them  with 
deep  interest,  as  we  recall  the  important  places  the  sub- 
jects of  them  filled  in  the  early  Church.  How  that  inter- 
est deepens  as  we  trace  back  to  them  one  of  our  grandest 
and  most  useful  and  honored  ministers  of  the  Gospel. 
More  delightfully  true  is  that  to  me.  Since  this  minister, 
Dr.  J.  Addison  Henry,  and  I  sat  together  as  students 
in  college  and  seminary  at  Princeton  for  six  precious  years. 
And,  again,  while  I  was  settled  at  Strasburg,  Pa.,  meet- 
ing in  the  same  Synod,  and  during  which  I  was  frequently 
made  a  welcome  guest  in  his  charming  home,  and  some- 
times having  the  added  pleasure  of  occupying  his  pulpit. 
A  very  rare  instance  of  this  fellowship  came  to  me  in  later 
years,  1895,  in  the  city  of  London,  when  the  omnibus  in 
which  I  was  riding  with  Mrs.  Kugler  stopped  and  the 
passenger  who  entered  was  Dr.  Henry.  That  the  greet- 
ing was  cordial  need  not  be  stated,  and  the  more  surpris- 
ing because  neither  of  us  knew  of  the  other's  presence  in 
the  city. 

As  I  am  revising  these  pages  this  year,  1907,  and  add- 
ing here  and  there  a  newly  discovered  fact,  there  came  to 
me  yesterday,  from  Princeton  Seminary,  the  record  of  her 
sons  who  died  during  the  previous  year.  In  this  record 
of  her  honored  dead  is  found  the  name  of  Dr.  Henry. 

The  leading  facts  of  that  record  are  already  known  by 

the  Church.    Briefly,  they  are  these:  Dr.  Henry  was  born 

at  Cranbury,  N.  J.,  October  28th,  1835.     He  graduated 

from  Princeton  College  in  1857,  ^^^  irom  the  Seminary 

in    i860.      He   was   installed    pastor   of   the   Princeton 

Church,  Philadelphia,  June  5th,  i860,  and  continued  in 

charge  of  the  same  until  his  death,  which  occurred  at 
3 


34  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Asbury  Park,  August  8th,  1906.  He  was  honored  with 
the  degree  of  D.  D.  by  Centre  College,  Kentucky,  and 
Washington  and  Jefferson  College,  Pennsylvania.  This 
latter  college  conferred  on  him  the  degree  of  LL.D.  in 
1905,  and  he  received  the  title  of  S.  T.  D.  from  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1906  just  before  his  death. 
He  was  Commissioner  to  the  General  Assembly  seven 
times,  and  the  General  Assembly  meeting  in  Buffalo  in 
1904  elected  him  as  her  Moderator.  He  was  also  a  trus- 
tee of  Princeton  University  fronni  1883  until  the  time  of 
his  death,  and  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly. The  Church  bestowed  on  him  many  other  offices 
and  honors,  but  none  of  these  was  held  by  him  in  higher 
esteem  than  that  of  pastor  of  the  Princeton  Church,  w^hich 
office  he  held,  and  whose  duties,  with  love  and  faithful- 
ness, he  discharged  for  the  long  period  of  forty-six  years. 
During  these  years  this  Church  grew  under  his  nursing 
care  and  by  the  blessing  of  the  Master  from  infancy  to  be 
a  leading  Church  in  strength,  activity  and  influence. 
Naturally  it  is  a  matter  of  personal  interest  to  me  to 
know  that  this  classmate  is  by  descent  a  son  of  the  Am- 
well  First  Church.  His  sister-in-law.  Miss  Steen,  visited 
me  in  1 905  to  get  the  facts  of  his  ancestry  as  related  above. 
Dr.  Henry  traces  back  to  Am  well  First  as  follows :  He 
was  the  son  of  Rev.  Symmes  Cleves  Henry,  D.  D.,  of 
Cranbury,  and  Catherine  Rowley,  his  wife;  the  grandson 
of  Colonel  James  Henry,  of  Lamington,  N.  J.,  and  Abi- 
gail Woodruff  McCrea,  his  wife;  the  great-grandson  of 
David  Henry  and  Mary  Rosborough,  his  wife.  David 
was  born  in  1728,  probably  at  Amwell.  He  died  Janu- 
ary, 1783,  asd  was  buried  at  Lamington.    J.  Addison  was 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  35 

the  great-great-grandson  of  Michael  Henry,  and  Jean, 
his  wife.  It  may  be  noticed  that  the  age  given  of  Michael 
Henry'  carries  his  birth  back  to  1683,  while  the  date  of 
Dr.  J.  Addison's  death  in  1906  extends  our  record  of  the 
family  to  a  period  of  223  years,  the  greater  part  of  which 
was  passed  in  America. 

THE  PRALLS. 

Of  these  old  families  no  one  has  been  more  uniformly 
identified  with  the  Church  than  the  Pralls.  They  were 
here  at  the  beginning  and  they  are  with  us  to-day.  At 
present  we  have  Deacon  William  Bellis  Prall  and  his 
brother,  Elder  Abraham  Prall.  And  at  the  one  hun- 
dredth and  sixtieth  anniversary  of  the  Church,  1898,  they 
both  had  children  on  the  roll  of  the  Church,  and  William 
had  grandchildren.  Going  back  to  the  earliest  known 
date  of  the  family  in  America  we  give  the  record  only  so 
far  as  it  concerns  the  ancestry  of  those  connected  with 
this  Church. 

Arent  or  Aaron  Praal  owned  land  in  Staten  Island  in 
1684.  Peter  Praal,  a  son  of  his,  born  date  unknown,  who 
died  October  27th,  1748,  was  an  assessor  in  Staten  Island 
in  1702.  He  came  to  Amwell  between  1711  and  17 16. 
In  1 716,  May  25th,  he  purchased  750  acres  of  land  in 
Amwell.  His  son,  Pieter  Praal,  born  March  29th,  1700, 
and  died  May  ist,  1761,  belonged  to  the  last  generation 
in  which  the  German  spelling  of  the  name  was  practiced. 
His  son,  Abraham  Prall,  was  born  February  6th,  1723, 
and  died  June  9th,  1812.  Peter  A.,  son  of  his,  was  born 
June  3d,  1 75 1,  and  died  March  2d,  1829. 

The  next  generation  we  have  Abraham  again  who  was 


36  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

born  November  21st,  1770,  and  died  June  21st,  1851. 
And  his  son,  Abraham,  born  December  9th,  181 1,  and 
died  September  6th,  1843,  was  the  father  of  William 
Bellis  Prall,  born  April  loth,  1834,  and  his  brother  Abra- 
ham, one  of  our  elders.  William  B.  Prall  died  January 
26th,  1906.  Of  Pieter  Praal  born  March  29th,  1700, 
we  have  the  interesting  fact  that  he  gave  the  land  for  the 
old  Church,  and  also  for  the  cemetery  within  whose  walls 
the  old  Church  was  situated.  In  this  venerated  spot 
sleep  the  dead  of  the  Church  and  congregation  for  many 
generations.  It  contains  the  remains  of  many  noble  pa- 
triots of  the  revolution,  and  of  many  valiant  soldiers  of  the 
Civil  War.  By  this  generous  act  of  Pieter  Praal,  the 
family  is  closely  identified  with  the  Church  in  all  its  sub- 
sequent history. 

William  B.  and  Abraham  Prall  represent  the  sixth 
generation  of  the  family  in  the  Church  from  the  time  of 
that  generous  gift,  and  the  eighth  generation  of  the  fam- 
ily in  America.  Remembering  that  these  brothers  have 
baptized  grandchildren,  we  can  say  we  have  eight  genera- 
tions of  the  family  in  the  Church.  This  is  truly  a  very 
interesting  fact,  and  I  am  convinced,  a  very  unusual  one 
in  American  Church  history. 

Members  of  this  family  may  be  found  in  many  states 
of  the  Union.  I  met  one  of  them  in  California  at  the 
Christian  Endeavor  Convention  in  San  Francisco  in  1897. 

A  grand  nephew  of  Pieter  Praal  the  early  benefactor  of 
the  Church  was  John  Prall,  born  September  20th,  1756, 
and  died  September  21st,  1831.  He  married  Amelia 
Coryell,  of  Lambertville.  This  John  Prall  built  the  mill 
at  Prallsville  above  Centre  Bridge,  now  Stockton.     He 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  37 

was  a  member  of  this  Church  when  it  stood  on  the 
hill,  where  his  great  uncle  had  given  it  a  plot.  And  not- 
withstanding the  distance  of  ten  miles  away,  to  this  day 
the  statement  is  remembered  and  repeated  to  his  credit 
that  he  was  noted  for  his  regularity  in  attending  the 
Church.  He  would  be  found  in  his  place,  almost  without 
failure,  both  winter  and  summer.  His  remains  and  also 
those  of  his  wife  lie  in  our  cemetery.  I  was  impressed  by 
the  unique  inscriptions  on  their  tombstones  and  copied 
them,  before  I  had  learned  the  interesting  fact  just  stated. 
They  are  as  follows: 

John  Prall — A  Christian,  a  philanthropist  and  a  pa- 
triot. 

The  other  is  Amelia  Prall — Sixty  years  a  Christian. 
Records  like  these  well  authenticated  are  an  honor  to 
any  Church.  During  my  pastorate  these  brothers  did  very 
much  to  show  the  continued  attachment  of  the  family  to 
the  Church  and  their  interest  in  its  welfare. 

THE    READING    FAMILY. 

In  a  subordinate  sense  the  families  I  have  named,  with 
others,  wjhose  record  has  passed  out  of  sight,  have  con- 
stituted the  "towers  and  bulwarks"  of  this^  Church  for 
generations.  It  has  seemed  becoming  that  we  should 
"mark  them  in  our  Walk  About  Zion." 

There  is  yet  another  name  no  longer  represented  among 
us,  yet  by  common  consent,  holding,  in  the  early  days  of 
the  Church,  the  place  of  greatest  prominence.  The  ref- 
erence is  to  John  Reading.  Mr.  Reading  was  born  June 
6th,  1686.  It  was  my  purpose,  originally,  to  dwell  at 
length  upon  the  facts  of  his  life.     But  I  recently  learned 


38  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

that  Mr.  J.  Granville  Leach,  acting  for  Hon.  Stephen  B. 
Elkins,*  Is  now  publishing  a  fuller  history  of  his  life  than 
I  could  possibly  give,  I,  therefore,  confine  myself  to  the 
statement  of  only  a  few  of  the  interesting  facts  of  his 
life,  and  I  do  this  both  because  of  the  fitness  of  such  a 
record  in  the  history  of  this  Church,  of  which  he  was 
so  important  a  part  in  the  early  period  of  its  organization ; 
and  I  do  it  also  to  show  how  wide  and  beneficent  the  influ- 
ence of  the  small,  and  often  lightly  esteemed  country 
Church  may  be.  The  father  of  John  Reading  was  also 
John.  He  and  his  wife  Elizabeth  came  to  America  some- 
time before  1683,  and  settled  in  Gloucester,  N.  J.  Dr. 
Mott  and  Mr.  Covley  give  his  wife's  name  as  Elizabeth. 
(The  New  Jersey  Archives  IV,  page  62,  say  her  name 
was  Rebecca).  He  was  a  prominent  man  in  our  early 
colonial  history.  While  at  Gloucester  he  was  Clerk,  or 
Recorder  of  the  county  from  1683  to  1701.  Archives 
IV,  p.  62.  We  find  him  a  member  of  the  Council  in 
1706,  and  again  in  1707,  (N.  J.  Archives  III,  pages  158 
and  221).  He  was  nominated  as  a  member  of  the  Coun- 
cil again  in  May,  17 11,  and  confirmed  in  17 13,  and  held 
the  office  until  his  death  in  1717  (Archives  IV,  pages  62, 

171,  333). 

From  what  place  in  England  he  came,  is  not  positively 
known,  Mr.  Leach  asserts  that  it  is  almost  certain  that 
he  came  from  London.  He  sent  his  children,  John  and 
Elsie,  in  charge  of  his  wife,  back  to  England  for  a  better 
education  than  could  be  secured  at  that  time  in  the  col- 


*Senator  Elkins  Is  a  descendant  of  Elsie,  sister  of  Gov. 
Reading. 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  39 

ony.  They  remained  nine  years  and  then  returned  to 
America.  The  father,  with  two  other  persons  was  sent  in 
1730  to  purchase  the  great  tract  of  land  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  acres  between  the  Delaware  and  Rari- 
tan  rivers.  He  also  made  extensive  purchases  of  land 
for  himself  in  Amwell,  and  about  this  time,  1703,  removed 
to  his  estate  at  Howell's  Ferry,  now  Stockton  and  Pralls- 
ville.  He  named  his  estate  Mount  Amwell."  To  Mr. 
Leach's  contention  that  Mr.  Reading  the  elder,  came 
from  London,  I  wish  to  say  that  my  belief  is,  he  or  his  an- 
cestors came  from  Amwell,  a  small  village  N.  E.  of  Lon- 
don. Snell  (Hist,  of  Hunt.  Co.,  p.  346)  says  from  1709- 
14,  Amwell  was  one  of  the  three  towns  that  constituted 
Burlington  Co.  Hunterdon  was  set  off  March  15th, 
1 7 13-14  making  the  Assunpink  the  southern  boundary  and 
Amwell  was  one  of  the  four  towns  which  lay  to  the  north 
of  it.  So  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  discover,  and  I  have 
the  aid  of  one  of  the  best  authorities*  on  the  State  Archives, 
that  there  is  no  mention  of  the  word  Amwell  previous  to 
its  use  by  the  elder  Reading  to  name  his  estate  at  Howell's 
Ferry."  The  custom  of  bringing  names  from  home  or  fa- 
miliar places  in  the  old  home  land  to  the  new,  leads  me  to 
the  belief  that  this  is  the  origin  of  the  name,  "Amwell." 

A  uniform  tradition  up  to  the  present  time  has  asserted 
that  he  was  a  Quaker,  and  that  at  his  death,  in  1717,  he 
was  buried  in  the  grounds  of  the  Buckingham  Meeting 
House,  Bucks  Co.,  Pa.  Mr.  Leach  stoutly  contests  both 
of  these  traditions,  adding  "there  is  not  a  scintilla  of  evi- 
dence to  show  that  he  was  a  Quaker,  but  much  to  the  con- 


*Mr.  Frank  Transue  of  Trenton. 


40  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

trary.  In  the  first  place  he  is  never  alligned  with  the 
Quakers,  when  they  dissent  from  any  action  on  the  part 
of  their  fellow  citizens."  I  can  confirm  this  contention 
from  personal  examination  of  the  State  Archives.  Second- 
ly, he  bears  military  title,  as  Captain  and  Colonel,  which 
a  Quaker  did  not.  But  there  is  no  question  about  the 
more  important  fact  to  us  ''that  the  son,  John,  during  his 
stay  in  England,  became  a  Presbyterian,  to  which  Church 
he  was  warmly  attached  until  the  time  of  his  death"  (Dr. 
Mott's  First  Cent,  of  Hunterdon  Co.).  He  was  a  most 
liberal  supporter  of  the  Amwell  First  Church,  as  the 
meagre  documents  and  subscription  lists  fully  show. 

He,  like  his  father,  was  a  surveyor.  He  was  one  of  the 
Commissioners  appointed  to  run  the  State  line  between 
New  York  and  New  Jersey,  July  25th,  17 19,  Archives 
IV,  page  394. 

As  a  surveyor,  he  became  acquainted  with  the  rich 
lands  in  the  Amwell  Valley.  He  had  formerly  surveyed 
tracts  in  this  valley  for  parties  in  Burligton,  who  were 
locating  lands  here. 

He  improved  the  opportunity  afforded,  and  purchased 
for  himself  six  hundred  acres  along  the  South  Branch,  a 
short  distance  from  Flemington,  where  he  subsequently 
built  the  Reading  homestead.  Governor  Reading  was 
noted  for  his  fair  dealing  with  the  Indians,  and  in  this 
way  gained  their  confidence  and  high  regard.  He  was 
trusted  by  them  as  truly  as  he  was  by  the  whites.  He 
came  thus  to  have  frequent  dealings  with  them,  and  was 
often  employed  for  purchasing  lands  from  these  original 
owners. 

Mr.  Reading  was  recommended  by  Governor  Hunter 


SILVER    CHALICE. 
Presented  to  Amwell  Church  by  Governor  John  Reading,  1767. 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  41 

as  a  suitable  person  to  be  appointed  a  member  of  his 
Majesty's  Council,  November,  17 18,  when  he  was  only 
thirty-two  years  of  age.  The  appointment  was  confirmed 
May  31st,  1720.  Archives  IV,  p.  377.  He  held  this 
office,  under  repeated  appointments,  until  1758,  when  he 
resigned  on  account  of  age  and  infirmity.  Archives  IX, 
127.  He  was  Lieutenant  Governor  for  two  terms,  and 
as  the  oldest  Counselor  became  Governor,  by  virtue  of  this 
position  on  the  death  of  Governor  Hamilton  in  1747, 
being  the  first  native  born  Jerseyman  to  govern  the  prov- 
ince. 

Again,  on  the  death  of  Governor  Belcher  in  August, 
1757,  he  was  Governor  for  the  second  time,  holding  the 
office  until  the  arrival  of  Governor  Bernard  in  June,  1758. 

His  name  heads  the  list  of  the  trustees  of  Princeton 
College,  under  the  new  and  more  liberal  charter  granted 
by  Governor  Belcher  in  1748,  when  the  college  was  trans- 
ferred from  Elizabeth  to  Newark. 

"His  influence,  services  and  money  were  freely  be- 
stowed to  lay  the  foundation  of  religious  privileges,  edu- 
cational advantages,  and  national  freedom." — Mott. 

Mr.  Reading  married,  November  30th,  1720,  Mary, 
daughter  of  Yoris  or  George  Ryerson,  and  Ann  Schoute, 
his  wife,  of  Pequenac,  Passaic  County,  N.  J.  Governor 
Reading  died  November  5th,  1767,  in  the  8ist  year  of 
his  age,  and  is  still  "remembered  for  what  he  has  done." 
Mrs.  Reading  died  April  17th,  1774,  aged  78  years.  They 
are  buried,  as  are  many  of  their  kindred,  in  the  old  Am- 
well  burying  ground,  near  to  the  spot  where  the  old 
Church  stood.  Over  the  grave  of  the  Governor  and  his 
wife  was  erected  within  a  few  years  a  monument  of  Quincy 


42  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

granite,  by  John  G.  Reading  of  Philadelphia,  and  Frank- 
lin Reading  of  Williamsport.  The  monument  states  that 
Mr.  Reading's  death  occurred  November  7th.  But  Mr. 
Leach  discovered  an  obituary  notice,  printed  at  the  time 
of  his  death,  and  almost  certainly  written  by  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Kirkpatrick,  pastor  of  the  Church  at  the  time,  which 
says  the  death  took  place  on  the  5th  of  November.  The 
closing  paragraph  of  the  obituary  reads  "He  manifested 
an  high  regard  to  religion,  and  was  a  constant  attendant 
on  public  worship;  was  Catholic  in  his  sentiments,  and 
loved  good  men  of  every  denomination  of  Christians." 

While  Governor  Reading  is  gratefully  remembered  as, 
perhaps,  the  most  liberal  benefactor  of  this  Church  in  its 
early  days,  there  is  no  one  gift  of  his  that  stands  out  so 
distinctly  and  awakens  so  much  interest  to-day  as  that 
which  he  made  just  before  his  death. 

In  a  codicil  to  his  will  added  October  29th,  1767,  only 
one  week  before  his  death,  we  have  the  statement. 

"I  give  also  the  sum  of  ten  pound  proclamation  money 
towards  the  making  of  a  silver  chalice,  or  such  other  need- 
ful Church  utensil  for  the  use  of  the  Eastern  part  of  the 
Presbyterian  congregation  in  the  township  of  Amwell  in 
the  administration  of  the  Lord's  Supper."  These  cups 
are  of  heavy  hammered  silver,  and  still  in  a  perfect  state 
of  preservation.  On  one  of  them,  is  the  following  in- 
scription :  A  Gift  of  the  Honorable  John  Reading,  Esq., 
deceased,  to  the  Eastern  Presbyterian  Congregation  in 
Amwell,  1767.  They  came  into  use  during  the  pastorate 
of  the  Rev.  William  Kirkpatrick  to  whose  pen  we  ascribe 
the  obituary  notice  of  Mr.  Reading,  to  which  reference 
has  been  made.    These  cups  are  still  in  use  in  this  Church, 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  43 

as  they  have  been  for  one  hundred  and  thirty-three  years. 
There  are,  I  am  sure,  few  objects  of  deeper  and  more 
sacred  interest,  or  more  venerable  with  age,  in  the  whole 
Presbyterian  Church  in  America,  than  are  these  conse- 
crated vessels  of  the  Sanctuary.  They  have  passed  through 
the  hands  of  fifteen  pastors  of  this  Church,  besides  many 
who  have  supplied  the  pulpit,  when  the  Church  was  with- 
out a  pastor.  Among  these,  was  the  venerable  John 
Witherspoon,  D.  D.,  President  of  Princeton  College  who 
administered  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  in  this 
Church,  June  21st,  1789.  And  now  1910  at  the  revision 
seventeen  pastors  and  145  years.  Your  parents  and  grand- 
parents to  the  third  and  fourth  generation  who  now 
''asleep  in  Christ,"  have  pressed  them  to  their  lips,  and 
taken  from  them  the  consecrated  wine.  What  a  chain  of 
tender  associations  between  the  living  and  the  dead,  do 
they  suggest!  How  blessed  to  feel,  as  "we  receive"  from 
these  sacred  vessels  that  we  are  communing  with  our  Lord, 
and  with  those  who'  have  gone  to  commune  with  Him  in 
his  Father's  Kingdom. 

Was  Governor  Reading  a  communicant  member  of  this 
Church?  This  question  was  asked  by  his  biographer. 
We  have  no  records  in  existence  to  which  we  can  appeal 
for  an  answer.  But  it  seems  to  me  that  these  communion 
cups  do  give  answer.  They  certainly  testify  to  his  appre- 
ciation of  Christ's  death  for  our  redemption,  and  of  the 
blessed  Sacrament  by  which  that  death  is  commemorated. 
And  whether  a  member  of  the  Church  or  not,  we  have 
here  an  act  of  faith  and  devotion,  that  would  adorn  the 
profession  of  any  Church  member;  which,  with  many  oth- 
er acts  of  his,  for  the  furtherance  of  the  Church  leads  us 


44  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

to  regard  him  as  numbered  with  believers,  who'  consti- 
tute the  Church  of  Christ. 

The  relation  of  Governor  Reading  to  the  Church  and 
State  seems  to  warrant  me  in  adding  a  few  statements  con- 
cerning his  family. 

To  Governor  and  Mrs.  Reading  were  bom  seven  sons 
and  three  daughters.  The  children  were  all  baptized  in 
the  Reading  Reformed  Church  of  which  Mrs.  Reading 
was  a  member  at  the  time. 

John,  born  March  30th,  1722,  died  November,  1766. 
Anne,  born  in  May  or  June,  1723,  as  inferred  from  her 
baptism  July  21st,  1723.  George,  born  February  26th, 
1725,  died  August,  1792.  Daniel,  born  February  2nd, 
1727,  died  October,  1768.  Joseph,  born  November  23rd, 
1730,  died  November,  1806.  Elizabeth,  born  December 
or  January,  1731.  Richard,  born  December  8th,  1732. 
Thomas,  born  September  27th,  1734,  died  December, 
1814.  Mary,  born  July  (?),  1736.  Sara,  born  Septem- 
ber (?),  1738.  Samuel,  born  November  25th,  1741, 
died  August,  1749.  He  and  many  of  the  family  are  buried 
in  the  cemetery  near  the  grave  of  Governor  Reading.  You 
will  notice  that  the  date  of  the  birth  of  the  daughters  is 
not  given.     It  can  only  be  inferred  from  the  baptism. 

Judge  James  N.  Reading,  formerly  a  prominent  lawyer 
in  Flemington,  was  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Eleanor  Grand- 
in  Reading,  and  a  great-great-grandson  of  the  Governor. 
Mrs.  James  N.  Reading  who  died  recently  in  Illinois, 
was  Sara  C,  daughter  of  Isaac  Southard.  James  N. 
Reading  built  the  imposing  re^sidence  in  Flemington,  now 
owned  and  occupied  by  Mrs.  J.  Newton  Voorhees.  Their 
children  are  now  living  in  Morris,  111.    Another  son  of 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  45 

Joseph  and  Eleanor  Grandin  Reading  was  Philip  G. 
Reading,  late  of  Frenchtown,  N.  J. 

Of  Joseph  Reading,  born  in  Amwell,  November  23, 
1730,  it  may  be  said  he  was  the  first  judge  of  the  Hunter- 
don County  Orphans'  Court.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Governor's  Council  from  1 781-1783.  He  was  a  member 
and  an  elder  of  the  Amwell  Second  Presbyterian  Church, 
Mt.  Airy,  and  frequently  a  delegate  to  Presbytery.  He 
owned  a  plantation  near  Rosemont.  The  family  bury- 
ing ground  is  at  that  place.  He  married  Amy  Pierson 
about  1754. 

While  I  have  had  but  the  slightest  acquaintance  with 
James  N.  Reading  I  was  intimately  acquainted  with 
Philip  G.  Reading,  also  with  their  sister  Mary  Ann, 
who  became  the  wife  of  William  Hedges,  of  Somerville. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hedges  came  to  Frenchtown  about 
1840,  and  Philip  Reading  a  short  time  afterward.  Mr. 
Hedges  was  engaged  in  mercantile  business,  and  later  he 
and  Philip  G.  Reading  united  in  conducting  the  lumber 
business  which  they  carried  on  for  several  years  at  French- 
town.  Joseph,  the  oldest  son  of  Philip,  was  a  pupil  of 
mine  a  few  years  later,  when  I  was  engaged  in  teach- 
ing, while  preparing  for  college. 

This  was  in  the  early  fifties,  Mr.  Reading  and  Mr. 
Hedges  had  both  been  associated  with  my  father,  Joseph 
Kugler,  in  establishing  and  sustaining  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  that  village.  The  first  Church  building  was 
erected  in  1845,  and  was  used  as  a  place  of  worship  and 
for  the  Sabbath  School,  but  was  not  organized  as  a  Church 
until  May  16,  1849.  Of  course  many  others  were  active 
helpers  in  building  and  sustaining  the  Church. 


46  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Elizabeth  R.,  the  only  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hedges 
was  also  a  pupil  of  mine.  During  my  college  days  I  met 
her  socially  at  the  residence  of  Governor  Olden  of  Prince- 
ton. 

Previous  to  this,  and  in  my  boyhood,  and  early  man- 
hood, I  was  often  thrown  in  social  relations  with  Mrs. 
Reading  Hedges.  She  was  a  woman  of  culture  and  re- 
finement and  I  always  have  been  thankful  that  in  early 
life,  I  came  under  her  influence.  Mr.  Reading  also  in- 
fluenced me  in  a  way  different  from  my  old  neighbors. 
There  was  a  frankness  of  speech  and  manner  about  him 
in  keeping  with  his  manifest  integrity,  and  the  evident 
courage  of  his  convictions  that  greatly  helped  me.  Mr. 
Reading  had  several  children,  as  Charles  and  James,  mer- 
chants in  Frenchtown,  Charles  having  been  once  a  member 
of  the  Senate.  George,  a  physician  in  Southern,  N.  J. ; 
Philip  in  business  in  Philadelphia,  and  John  a  distin- 
guished lawyer  at  Williamsport,  Pa. 

Having  stated  my  indebtedness  to  Philip  G.  Reading 
during  my  boyhood,  it  will  not  be  amiss  I  trust,  to  add 
another  pleasant  fact  of  my  connection  with  this  family. 
The  only  daughter  of  Mr.  Reading,  Miss  Eva,  I  came  to 
know  in  Clinton,  N.  J.,  where  I  am  residing  since  retiring 
from  the  pastorate  and  am  engaged  in  revising  this  his- 
tory. She  is  the  wife  of  Hon.  W.  C.  Gebhardt  of  the 
New  Jersey  Senate,  and  herself  the  distinguished  presi- 
dent of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  of  Hunterdon  Co.,  also  active 
in  Temperance,  Sunday  School  and  Church  work.  Here 
relations  have  been  reversed,  as  I  have  had  two  of  her 
daughters,  the  granddaughters  of  my  old  friend,  Philip  G. 
Reading  under  my  instruction  in  the  Sabbath  School,  and 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  47 

particularly  in  a  Teacher-Training  Class,  in  which,  at 
graduation,  they  received  along  with  one  other,  Miss 
Elizabeth  Fox,  by  the  bestowment  of  the  State  Superin- 
tendent of  this  department,  the  highest  honors  at  his  dis- 
posal. There  are  other  descendants  of  the  Reading  fam- 
ily, residing  in  or  near  Clinton.  Of  these  we  men- 
tion Mr.  John  Stryker,  son  of  Mrs.  Theodosea  Reading 
and  Larison  Stryker,  also  Nelson,  the  son  of  John  Stryker, 
who  with  his  wife  are  active  workers  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Clinton. 

Miss  Elizabeth  Grandin,  daughter  of  Dr.  John  G.,  lives 
at  the  old  Grandin  homestead,  and  is  a  devoted  student  of 
Art. 

Then  there  are  large  groups  of  the  family  residing  in 
and  about  Sergentsville,  N.  J.,  and  others  at  Rosemont 
and  along  the  Delaware.  These  cannot  here  be  traced. 
As  to  my  pupil,  Miss  Elizabeth  Reading  Hedges,  I  feel 
warranted  in  making  additional  statements,  because  this 
pupil  of  mine  afterwards  became  the  highly  esteemed 
wife  of  one  of  your  pastors,  the  Rev.  John  H.  Scofield, 
but  alas  no  longer  living.  It  is  gratifying  to  have  with  us 
to-day  at  our  anniversary  services,  and  also  at  the  parson- 
age, her  daughter.  Miss  Mary  Scofield.  And  this  interest 
is  increased  by  the  fact  that  the  parsonage  is  the  birthplace 
of  Miss  Scofield. 

As  Miss  Scofield  is  the  only  representative  of  the  Read- 
ing family  attending  these  services,  we  deem  it  fitting  to 
trace  her  relation  to  the  Governor. 

Mary  Reading  Scofield  is  the  daughter  of  Rev.  J.  H. 
Scofield  and  Elizabeth  R.  Hedges,  his  wife;  granddaugh- 
ter of  Mary  Ann  Reading  and  W.  W.  Hedges;  great- 


48  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

granddaughter  of  Joseph  Reading  and  Eleanor  Grandin; 
great-great-granddaughter  of  Captain  John  Reading  and 
Elizabeth  Hankinson;  great-great-great-granddaughter  of 
John  Reading  and  Isabella,  daughter  of  William  Mont- 
gomery* of  Ayr,  Scotland,  and  great-great-great-great- 
granddaughter  of  Governor  John  Reading  and  Mary, 
daughter  of  Yoris  or  George  Ryerson,  of  Pequenac,  Pas- 
saic Co.,  and  his  wife,  Ann  Schoute.  This  makes  Miss 
Scofield  of  the  seventh  generation  from  Governor  Read- 
ing. 

Captain  John  Reading  in  the  above  line  styled  "Valiant 
John"  was  ensign  in  the  company  commanded  by  his  Un- 
cle Thomas,  Second  Lieut,  in  Captain  Dougherty's  Com- 
pany, and  Jan.  ist,  1777,  was  made  First  Lieut,  in  Cap- 
tain Cox's  Company  same  Batallion  (Leach,  page  55). 

Mrs.  John  H.  Scofield  was  the  second  of  the  descend- 
ants of  Governor  Reading  who  has  presided  in  the  Am- 


*This  William  Montgomery,  son  of  William,  came  in 
his  ninth  year,  with  his  father  to  America.  He  settled  in 
Upper  Freehold,  where  he  died  in  1771,  aged  78  years. 
William,  the  elder  son  of  Hugh,  was  the  heir  and  owner 
of  the  property  in  Bridgewood  about  one  mile  from  Ayr. 
He  married  Isabel,  daughter,  of  Robt.  Burnett,  of  the 
family  of  Gilbert  Burnett,  Bishop  of  Salsbury,  and  also 
one  of  the  proprietors  of  East  Jersey.  Having  lost  much 
of  his  property,  he  moved  in  1701  with  his  family  to  New 
Jersey,  and  settled  on  the  lands  of  his  father-in-law  at  a 
place  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Eglington,  two  miles 
from  Allentown.  The  ancestry  of  this  William  traces 
back  to  Lord  Hugh  Montgomery,  who  in  1508,  was  cre- 
ated by  James  IV  of  Scotland,  Earl  of  Eglington.  (Early 
settlers  of  Trenton  by  Cooley,  page  223). 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  49 

well  parsonage.  The  other  was  Theodosia,  daughter  of 
Daniel,  who  married  Rev.  Thomas  Grant,  the  fifth  pas- 
tor of  the  Church. 

William  Reading,  a  grandson  of  Daniel,  attained  the 
rank  of  Brigadier  General  in  the  regular  army  during  the 
Mexican  War.  He  was  distinguished  for  gallantry  in 
the  battles  of  Palo  Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  and  Molino 
del  Rey  in  Mexico.  Ann  also  daughter  of  Daniel,  married 
Thomas  Wood,  an  eminent  lawyer  of  New  Jersey,  and 
afterward  of  New  York.  Another  descendant,  Anna  Far- 
lee,  became  the  wife  of  the  late  Augustus  Richey,  a  dis- 
tinguished lawyer  of  Trenton.  In  early  life,  and  up  to 
manhood  Mr.  Richey  resided  in  Asbury,  N.  J.,  and  was 
connected  with  the  Musconetcong  Valley  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  which  I  was  for  many  years  the  pastor.  These 
are  but  a  few  of  the  names  which  show  how  widely  ex- 
tended the  influence  and  widely  scattered  the  members 
and  children  of  this  Church,  who,  when  they  sit  down  to 
tell  the  history  of  their  own  lives  or  families,  must  turn 
back  to  the  Old  Amwell  First  Church  as  the  home  of 
their  ancestors.  There  was  Major  Pierson  Reading, 
grandson  of  Joseph  who  went  to  California,  when  it  was 
a  wilderness,  and  before  the  discovery  of  gold  there.  He 
was  there  before  Commodore  Stockton's  arrival,  and  in 
command  of  a  division  in  Stockton's  little  army,  partici- 
pated in  the  victories  which  won  for  our  country  that 
paradise  of  the  Pacific  coast.  His  children  are  still  there, 
holding  positions  of  influence  and  responsibility.  I  must 
not  pass  by  Thomas,  the  youngest  son  of  Governor,  except- 
ing Samuel  who  died  in  childhood.  Thomas  died  in  18 14, 
in  the  80th  year  of  his  age.    It  is  claimed  for  him  by  Dr. 


50  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Miller  K.  Reading,  of  Virginia,  that  he  was  by  far  the 
ablest  and  most  active  man  in  war,  in  Church  and  in 
State,  of  Governoir  Reading's  sons.  He  was  Captain  of 
the  6th  Company  of  the  3rd  Battalion  of  the  New  Jer- 
sey Brigade.  He  was  mustered  into  service  in  1774.  He 
took  part  in  the  operations  before  Quebec,  in  1776,  and 
continued  in  command  until  his  regiment  was  mustered 
out  in  1777.  He  was  chosen  Member  of  the  Colonial 
Congress  February  gth,  1776.  He  was  a  Trustee  in  our 
Church  and  our  very  meagre  records  of  the  time,  show 
him  to  have  been  very  active  in  measures  for  the  Church's 
advancement.  It  is  asserted  that  he  was  also  a  communi- 
cant member  of  the  Church.  And  while  he  naturally 
went  with  the  Flemington  Church  at  the  time  of  its  or- 
ganization, he  was  not  only  an  active  member  there,  but 
the  first  man  to  be  ordained  to  the  office  of  Ruling  Elder 
in  that  Church.  John,  a  grandson,  entered  the  company 
of  his  Uncle  Thomas. 

Another  grandson  of  the  Governor,  Thomas,  was  First 
Lieutenant  in  Captain  Stout's  Company  of  the  Jersey 
Line.  He  was  taken  prisoner  at  Three  Rivers,  June  8th, 
1776.  He  became  Captain  February  5th,  1777,  and  Ma- 
jor of  the  First  Regiment  December  29,  1781,  and  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  Yet  another,  Charles,  was 
Lieutenant  of  the  Third  Regiment,  and  afterward  Cap- 
tain. 

Dr.  Miller  K.  Reading,  great-grandson  of  Thomas,  re- 
siding In  Aden,  Va,,  has  shown  much  interest  in  the  pub- 
lication of  this  history.  He  informs  me  that  his  grand- 
mother, wife  of  Joseph  Reading,  was  a  Miss  Waldron, 
whose  family  at  the  time  attended  this  Church,  which 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  51 

enables  us  to  place  the  Waldrons  among  the  early  wor- 
shippers at  Amwell.  This  lengthy  account  of  the  Read- 
ings must  admit  of  one  more  branch,  in  justice  to  the 
Church's  record,  as  well  as  to  the  family. 

We  have  stated  there  were  seven  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters born  to  Governor  and  Mrs.  Reading, 

"Woman  is  too  much  to  the  fore"  in  this  day,  to  be 
left  "unnamed,  unhonored  and  unsung." 

The  daughters  were  Ann,  married  to  Rev.  Charles 
Beatty.  Mary,  married  to  Rev.  William  Mills  of  Ja- 
maica, Long  Island,  and  Elizabeth,  married  John  Hack- 
ett,  from  whom  Hackettstown  takes  its  name.  Of  Ann 
only,  and  a  few  of  her  children  we  wish  to  speak.  She 
was  the  second  child  of  Governor  Reading,  having  been 
born  early  in  1723.  Her  baptism  took  place  at  the  Re- 
formed Church  of  Readington,  July  21st,  1723.  June 
24th,  1746,  Ann  Reading  was  married  to  the  Rev.  Charles 
Beatty,  Mr.  Beatty  was  a  graduate  of  the  Log  College 
at   Neshaminy. 

The  Rev.  William  Tennent  was  the  able  head  of  this 
school.  Mr.  Beatty  came  to  this  country  from  the  North 
of  Ireland.  His  mother  was  Christina,  daughter  of  James 
Clinton.  She  was  the  sister  of  Charles  Clinton,  whose 
son,  George,  was  successively  General  in  the  Army  of 
the  Revolution,  Governor  of  New  York  and  Vice-Pres- 
dent  of  the  United  States  with  Jefferson  during  his  second 
term.  This  shows  good  blood  for  young  Beatty.  The  Beattys 
were  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  and  of  the  Presbyterian 
faith.  The  elder  Beatty  having  died,  Mrs.  Beatty  and 
her  four  sons,  accompanied  her  brother,  Charles  Clinton, 
to  this  country  in  1729.    Charles  Beatty  was  then  a  lad  of 


52  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

fifteen  years.  He  undertook  to  support  himself  by  sell- 
ing linen  fabrics,  and  carried  his  goods,  as  was  the  cus- 
tom, on  his  back.  In  one  of  his  excursions,  as  the  tra- 
dition has  given  it  to  us,  he  approached  Mr.  Tennent,  and 
addressed  him  in  Latin,  seeking  to  sell  his  goods.  The 
result  of  the  interview  was  that  Mr.  Tennent  persuaded 
him  to  sell  the  goods  on  hand  and  return  to  the  Log  Col- 
lege and  study  for  the  ministry.  Whether  this  is  all  true 
or  not,  it  is  given  on  the  authority  of  Dr.  Rodgers,  and 
there  is  no  doubt  about  his  studying  at  the  Log  College 
and  entering  the  ministry  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He 
was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  Octo- 
ber 13th,  1742,  adhering  to  his  teacher,  Mr.  Tennent,  in 
what  was  called  the  New  Side.  His  license  was  one  year 
after  the  division  of  the  Synod.  He  was  called  to  suc- 
ceed Mr.  Tennent  at  the  Forks  of  the  Neshaminy,  May 
26,  1743,  and  ordained  and  installed  there  on  the  14th 
of  December.  Mr.  Beatty  possessed,  in  a  large  measure, 
the  missionary  spirit,  and  sympathized  with  the  celebrated 
David  Brainard,  in  his  efforts  to  evangelize  the  Indians. 
He  entertained  Brainard  at  his  house  in  1745,  when  on  a 
visit  to  confer  with  the  Governor  on  business  connected 
with  his  mission.  In  June  of  that  year  occurred  a  mem- 
orable communion,  when  Brainard  on  Mr.  Beatty 's  invi- 
tation came  to  assist,  and  preached  to  a  large  audience  of 
two  or  three  thousand,  and  many  were  deeply  affected. 
Mr.  Beatty  and  Ann  Reading  were  married  as  already 
stated,  June  24th,  1746.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  Mr. 
Brainard's  health  having  failed,  and  he  having  decided 
to  leave  New  Jersey,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beatty  called  to  bid 
him  farewell,  to  which  Brainard  refers  in  his  journal  "as 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  53 

unexpected,  and  refreshing  to  his  Spirit."  Mr.  Beatty's 
personal  connection  with  this  Church  was  not  as  pastor, 
but  only  as  a  supply.  It  was  in  this  way  the  Church 
was  served  from  its  origin  to  1751.  Mr.  Beatty  was 
prominent  among  these  supplies.  In  October  Mr.  Beatty 
was  appointed  by  Presbytery  *'to  supply  Amwell  one- 
quarter  of  his  time,  and  Mr.  James  Campbell  before  our 
next."  Again  in  1748  and  1749,  Mr.  Beatty,  Mr.  Camp- 
bell, Mr.  Allen  and  Mr.  Chestnut  are  some  of  the  sup- 
plies. During  these  years  you  will  remember  he  was,  by 
his  marriage  to  Ann  Reading,  the  son-in-law  of  the  Gov- 
ernor, which  perhaps  had  something  to  do  with  his  fre- 
quent services  of  this  kind.  The  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Beatty  were  able,  godly  and  influential.  So  from 
this  Amwell  girl,  Ann  Reading,  wife  of  Charles  Beatty, 
sprung  men  and  women  to  benefit  and  bless  both  the 
State  and  the  Church  at  large. 

One  daughter,  Mary,  married  the  Rev.  Enoch  Green, 
a  member  of  the  Green  family  of  Ewing  and  Trenton, 
who  graduated  at  Princeton  College  and  was  pastor  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Deerfield,  N.  J.  He  entered 
the  Army  of  the  Revolution  in  1776,  as  Chaplain,  con- 
tracted fever  and  died  in  December. 

But  Mary  lived  until  1842.  When  she  died  in  the 
ninety-sixth  year  of  her  age,  and  was  buried  in  the  grounds 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  corner  of  Fourth  and  Pine 
Streets,  Philadelphia.  Elizabeth,  another  daughter,  mar- 
ried Rev.  Philip  Vicars  Fithian.  He,  too,  was  a  Presby- 
terian clergyman,  and  entered  the  army  as  Chaplain.  He 
was  at  the  battle  of  White  Plains  and  soon  after  died  from 
exposure  in  camp.    Their  son,  John,  graduated  at  Prince- 


54  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

ton,  in  the  first  class  under  Dr.  Witherspoon,  whose  com- 
ing to  Princeton  was  due  as  much  to  his  grandfather, 
Charles  Beatty,  as  to  any  other  man.  But  as  the  war 
broke  out  he  entered  the  army,  received  a  Captain's  com- 
mission in  the  Fifth  Penna.  Batallion,  attained  the  rank 
of  Major,  was  taken  prisoner  at  the  surrender  of  Fort 
Washington,  November  1776.  On  his  exchange,  he  was 
appointed  commissary-general  of  prisoners.  As  a  man  of 
business  he  held  many  positions  of  great  responsibility.  He 
returned  to  Princeton  after  the  war  and  represented  the 
State  in  Congress  from  1783  to  1785. 

Dr.  Reading  Beatty,  son  of  Charles  and  his  wife,  Ann 
Reading,  was  a  student  of  medicine  when  the  war  broke 
out.  He  at  once  entered  the  army,  and  was  taken  pris- 
oner with  his  brother  at  the  surrender  of  Fort  Washing- 
ton. He  was  a  ruling  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Newtown.  Pa.  His  daughter,  Ann,  married  the  Rev. 
Alexander  Boyd  of  Newtown,  Pa.  His  daughter,  Mary, 
married  the  Rev.  Robert  Steel,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Abington,  Pa.  Another  daughter,  married 
Rev.  Henry  Wilson  and  died  as  a  missionary  in  Arkansas. 
A  daughter  of  Rev.  Robert  Steel,  D.  D.,  Mrs.  Mary  Har- 
vey, is  now  (1898)  residing  in  Hoboken,  N.  J.  She  is 
an  eminently  brilliant  woman  and  active  in  church  and 
educational  work.  This  at  least,  was  true  of  her,  during 
the  time  of  my  pastorate  in  that  city,  but  being  the  widow 
of  an  Episcopal  clergyman,  her  connection  was  not  with 
the  Church  I  served.  She  has  rendered  me  material  as- 
sistance in  the  preparation  of  this  history. 

Col.  Erkuries  Beatty,  another  son  of  Rev.  Charles  Beat- 
ty was  preparing  for  college  when  the  war  broke  out.    At 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  55 

the  age  of  sixteen  he  entered  the  army  under  Lord  Stirl- 
ing, who  had  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Colonies.  He  was 
in  the  battles  of  Long  Island  and  White  Plains.  He  ob- 
tained an  Ensign's  commission  in  the  Fourth  Penna.  Bat- 
talion. He  was  engaged  in  the  Battle  of  Brandywine 
May  1777,  and  in  that  of  Germantown  in  which  he  was 
severely  wounded.  He  fought  at  Monmouth,  June  28th, 
1778,  under  Wayne.  He  then  joined  LaFayette  and  was 
present  at  the  capture  of  Yorktown,  October  19th,  1781. 
Dr.  Charles  Clinton  Beatty,  son  of  Erkuries,  was  a 
distinguished  clergyman  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He 
was  settled  at  Steubenville,  Ohio,  where  in  connection 
with  his  wife,  he  founded  a  large  Female  Seminary.  He 
was  Moderator  of  the  General  Assembly  in  1862.  He 
was  an  influential  member  of  the  Committee  w^hich  con- 
summated the  Union  between  the  old  School  and  the  new 
School  Presbyterian  Churches.  He  was  a  very  liberal 
benefactor  of  the  Church  and  educational  institutions.  His 
gifts  to  the  Female  Seminary  at  Steubenville,  to  JefFerson 
College  and  to  the  Western  Theological  Seminary  at 
Pittsburg  are  said  to  amount  to  $500,000.  And  he  and 
his  descendants  must  trace  back  to  Amwell,  and  to  Ann 
Reading  when  they  would  write  up  their  history.*  Just 
one  more  illustration  of  this  wide  influence  of  our  Church. 
Mary,  a  daughter  of  Ann  Reading  and  Charles  Beatty 
married  Rev.  Enoch  Green,  Lydia  Elizabeth,  a  grand- 
daughter of  this  Enoch  Green  married  James  W.  Moore, 
D.  D.,  and  settled  at  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  and  was 


*We  are  indebted  to  Dr.  Charles  Beatty's  History  of 
the  Beatty  family,  for  many  of  the  above  facts. 


56  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

the  first  missionary  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  that  part 
of  the  State.    A  son  of  this  James  W.  Moore,  was  Charles 
Beatty  Moore,  who  graduated  at  Princeton  in  1857,  in 
the  same  class  with  myself.     When  I  began  to  write  this 
history  I  was  struck  with  the  name  Charles  Beatty  and 
made  inquiry  as  to  his  ancestry.     You  may  imagine  my 
surprise  and  delight  to  find  that  this  classmate  whom  I 
love  as  a  brother  was  also  a  descendant  of  the  old  Am- 
well  Church  of  which  I  am  pastor.    For  years  we  sat  to- 
gether in  grand  old  Princeton.    During  the  war  he  was  in 
the  Confederate  Army,  and  I  in  the  Church,  and  my  sym- 
pathies with   the   North.     The  war   is  ended,   and   old 
friends  clasp  hands  with  the  friendship  of  earlier  days.     I 
believe  him  to  be  as  true  to  the  flag  as  I  am,  or  any  other 
man.  He  is  an  elder  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Little 
Rock.  In  1897  Major  Charles  Beatty  Moore,  such  is  the 
record   in  the  minutes  of   the   Synod  of  Arkansas,   was 
elected  to  the  office  of  Moderator  of  the  Synod  for  the 
second  time.     Unfortunately,  I  have  lost  the  date  of  his 
first  election,  which  was  said  to  be  the  first  time  that  a 
layman  had  filled  that  office  in  America.     I  am  confident 
he  honored  the  office  as  truly  as  the  office  honored  him. 
Naturally  he  is  interested  in  this  Church  of  his  ancestors, 
and  in  this  history. 

This  family  history  should  not  close  without  recording 
the  fact  that  a  Miss  Beatty,  a  great  granddaughter  of 
Ann  Reading  and  Charles  C.  Beatty  was  a  pioneer  mis- 
sionary in  India,  stationed  at  Dehra,  where,  after  a  life 
spent  in  obedience  to  the  Saviour's  last  command,  she  died 
and  was  buried.  So  it  comes  to  pass  that  we  have 
representatives  of  Old  Amwell,  or  their  descendants,  scat- 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  57 

tered  over  the  whole  country.  We  find  them  on  the  At- 
lantic Coast,  in  the  great  Central  States,  in  the  Central 
and  Southern  part  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  on  the  Pacific 
Coast,  and  among  the  missionaries  of  far  off  India,  all 
making  a  deeply  interesting  history  of  the  family  and  an 
honor  to  the  Church. 

And  yet  ''the  half  has  not  been  told,"  nor  can  we 
even  mention  the  vast  multitudes  who  trace  their  origin 
back  to  the  Amwell  Church,  and  to  those  honored  ances- 
tors whose  faith  in  God,  and  whose  Christian  character 
have  stamped  themselves  upon  their  numerous  descend- 
ants. Truly  we  have  a  wonderful  heritage  in  the  vener- 
able and  sacred  organization  whose  story  we  are  trying 
to  tell  to  the  present,  and  the  generation  following. 

In  presenting  these  family  records  I  have  answered  with 
sufficient  fullness  the  questions  who  was  on  the  ground  at 
the  beginning  of  the  Church?  and  presumably  by  whom 
was  it  organized?  And  who  sustained  the  Church  in 
the  days  of  its  infancy?  For  some  of  these  I  have  car- 
ried the  record  down  so  as  to  connect  the  past  and  the 
present. 

Now,  leaving  the  records  of  families,  or  individuals, 
we  recur  to  the  organization  of  the  Church.  The  date  of 
the  organization  I  have  been  able  to  give  only  proximately. 
But  I  have  the  pleasure  of  stating  for  the  first  time  to 
the  present  generation  at  least,  the  date  of  building  the 
old  Church  which  stood  in  the  cemetery  grounds  between 
Reaville  and  Ringoes.  This  date  is  not  given  either 
by  Dr.  Mott  or  Dr.  Blattenberger,  in  the  sketches  they 
have  published  of  the  Church.  We  have  on  file  a  paper 
in  the  handwriting  of  Jasper  Smith,  which  was  prepared 


58  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

in  order  to  secure  the  removal  of  the  Church  to  Flem- 
ington,  and  rebuild  it  there.  This  paper  was  presented  to 
Presbytery,  and  its  facts  used  in  an  address  before  Presby- 
tery, as  an  argument  for  the  change  of  location. 

The  paper  gives  numerous  reasons  for  such  removal. 
The  very  first  reason  mentioned  is  this,  "Because  the 
house,"  (meaning  the  old  Church)  **is  ex-central.  It  was 
built  fifty-two  years  ago,  for  the  people  between  the  Del- 
aware River  and  the  Dutch  Congregation  in  Reading 
Town."  This  paper  is  dated  November,  1791.  But  fifty- 
two  years  before  1791  gives  us  1739,  thus  fixing  the  date 
of  building  the  old  Church.  That  building  continued  to 
be  the  house  of  worship,  though  undergoing  numerous 
and  extensive  repairs  for  one  hundred  years.  For  the 
other  record  is,  that  in  1839,  during  the  pastorate  of 
Rev.  David  Hull,  the  old  Church  was  taken  down,  and 
the  present  Church  building  erected.  That  event  closed 
a  marvellous  century  in  the  history  of  this  Church,  and 
yet,  so  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  learn,  it  was  allowed  to 
pass  without  a  centennial  celebration ;  most  likely  without 
the  knowledge  that  the  Church  had  stood  there  for  one 
hundred  years.  Who  the  people  were  who  were  inter- 
ested in  the  erection  of  that  Church,  we  have  already 
shown  with  very  strong  probability,  if  not  certainty. 

A  brief  description  of  that  building  was  given  by  the 
late  George  P.  Rex,  M.  D.,  and  was  included  in  a  sketch 
of  the  Church  furnished  by  Dr.  Blattenberger,  for  Snells 
History  of  Hunterdon  County,  published  in  1881.  Un- 
like our  present  Church  building,  its  greatest  length  was 
parallel  to  the  highway.  The  door  was  on  the  side  fac- 
ing the  road,  and  directly  in  front  of  it  was  the  pulpit. 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  59 

There  were  galleries  on  three  sides.  It  was  built  of  wood. 
It  contained  neither  stove  nor  fire  place. 

"It  was  unfinished,  and  ever  likely  to  be,  and  very 
cold,"  is  given  as  the  second  reason,  in  the  paper  of  1791, 
already  quoted  for  removing  and  building  in  Flemington, 
"And  because  when  the  people  arrive,  there  are  no  houses 
nearby,  with  fire,  where  people  can  warm."  A  third  rea- 
son for  moving  the  Church  was,  "There  is  no  place  by  the 
Church  where  victuals  and  drink  can  be  procured  for  the 
hungry  and  thirsty." 

Last  winter  I  called  on  Mr.  Peter  R.  Young,  then  in 
his  90th  year,  and  living  with  his  daughter  at  Morris- 
town,  to  learn  something  of  the  old  Church.  But  his 
memory  had  failed,  and  there  was  but  little  that  he  could 
give  in  a  way  that  I  could  rely  upon  it.  But  this  is  a 
part  of  what  he  said.  The  floor  of  the  Church  was  of 
brick  and  the  means  of  heating  was  to  build  a  fire  of  logs 
outside  the  Church.  Coals  from  such  fire  were  gathered 
into  a  large  iron  caldron  or  kettle  and  carried  to  the  cen- 
tre of  the  Church.  The  fumes  arising  from  these  coals 
would  some  times  cause  persons  in  the  gallery  to  faint.  He 
had  some  interesting  reminiscences  about  the  Schencks 
who  he  said  came  to  this  country  in  1630  and  that  they 
owned  a  very  large  tract  of  land,  extending  from  Ringoes 
to  Pennington.  Also  he  said  that  General  Washington 
advised  the  oldest  of  the  Schencks  then  living  not  to  join 
the  army,  but  to  continue  on  the  farm  to  raise  grain  to 
feed  the  army.  This  reminiscence  of  Mr.  Young  I  men- 
tion, but  because  of  his  failing  memory,  it  is  to  be  re- 
garded rather  as  a  subject  for  inquiry,  than  as  a  statement 
of  fact. 


6o  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

The  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick  was  organized 
1738,  and  directed  to  hold  its  first  meeting  August  8th,  at 
New  Brunswick.  It  was  ordered  at  that  meeting  that 
"Mr.  Wales  preach  at  John  Fraissier's  upon  the  third  Sab- 
bath of  this  instant,  upon  Monday  following  at  Edward 
Barbers,  and  upon  Tuesday  at  Amwell  meeting  house." 
Thus  it  appears  there  was  a  meeting  house  in  existence  in 
1738.  Hence  the  date  I  have  quoted  from  Jasper  Smith's 
paper,  making  the  "Old  House"  our  previous  Church 
fifty-two  years  old  in  1791,  was  not  our  first  Church 
building,  or  else  there  is  a  slight  error  in  the  date.  I 
think  it  altogether  more  probable  that  there  was  this  still 
"older  house"  in  existence,  somewhere  in  the  Amwell  Val- 
ley, which  was  supplanted  by  the  one  built  on  the  York 
Road  in  1739. 

A  fact  of  greater  historic  Interest  than  the  date  of  the 
origin  of  the  Church  is  the  first  meeting  of  the  Presbytery 
at  Amwell.  The  Synod,  then  the  highest  court  of  the 
Church,  had  ordered  that  every  candidate  for  the  minis- 
try, not  having  a  degree  from  a  university,  must,  in  lieu 
of  that,  have  a  certificate  from  the  Synod's  Committee  on 
Candidates  for  the  Ministry,  before  it  was  in  order  for 
a  Presbytery  to  proceed  with  his  license.  The  Presbytery 
of  New  Brunswick,  however,  at  its  first  session  disre- 
garded this  order  of  Synod.  John  Rowland,  a  native  of 
Wales,  appeared  before  the  Presbytery  and  was  taken  on 
trials.  It  Is  true  he  was  a  graduate  of  the  Log  Col- 
lege, but  that,by  no  means  answered  the  requirement  of 
Synod  for  a  degree  from  some  university.  Neither  had 
he  the  certificate  In  lieu  of  It,  from  Synod.  September 
7th,    1738,   the   Presbytery   proceeded   with   his   license, 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  6i 

claiming  that  to  the  Presbytery  belonged  the  original 
jurisdiction  in  granting  a  license,  and  that  the  Synod  had 
no  right  to  interfere.  The  Synod  at  its  next  meeting  en- 
tertained a  complaint  of  this  action  of  Presbytery,  and 
expressed  its  disapproval.  At  the  meeting  of  Presbytery 
just  mentioned,  which  was  held  at  Freehold,  more  sup- 
plies were  requested  by  Amwell.  Though  there  was  a 
great  scarcity  of  ministers  John  Rowland  was  appointed 
to  preach  at  Amwell.  The  Rev.  William  Tennent  was 
also  appointed  to  preach  at  Amwell  the  first  Wednesday 
in  September,  1739.  In  that  same  month  the  people  of 
Amwell  offered  a  petition  for  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Row- 
land. That  meant  his  settlement  as  pastor.  On  the  1 1  th 
of  October,  1739,  the  Presbytery  met  at  Amwell,  with  a 
view  to  ordain  Mr.  Rowland.  This  is  the  first  meeting 
of  Presbytery  at  Amwell.  It  held  its  first  session  on  the 
evening  of  the  first  day  at  the  house  of  Michael  Henry. 
Among  those  present  were  William  and  Gilbert  Ten- 
nent, also  graduates  of  the  Log  College,  under  their  fath- 
er. The  record  of  this  meeting  in  the  minutes  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  New  Brunswick,  which  is  the  authority  for  these 
statements,  is  as  follows: 

"The  affair  of  Mr.  Rowland  being  resumed,  the  Pres- 
bytery do  report  that,  after  deliberate  consideration  upon 
the  present  circumstances  of  Amwell,  inasmuch  as  they 
desired,  but  one-third  part  of  Mr.  Rowland's  time  and 
labors  among  them,  judged  it  improper  to  ordain  him  to 
that  place  in  particular,  and  therefore  the  necessitous  state 
of  the  Church  so  requiring,  they  proceeded  to  ordain  him, 
sine  titulo,  i.  c.  to  the  ministry  of  the  word  in  general." 
Hence  he  wfas  not  installed  as  pastor  at  Amwell.     He, 


62  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

however  supplied  Amwell  and  Lawrenceville  for  about 
six  months,  and  this  ordination  took  place  in  the  Amwell 
Church.  There  is  to-day,  1898,  an  added  interest  ad- 
hering to  this  license  and  ordination  of  Mr.  Rowland, 
because  the  license  was  granted  contrary  to  a  standing 
rule  of  Synod,  and  the  ordination  in  face  of  the  admoni- 
tion of  Synod;  and  because  the  act,  and  the  plea  that 
original  jurisdiction  in  this  matter  belongs  to  the  Pres- 
bytery, and  not  to  the  Synod,  is  substantially  the  same  as 
the  case  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  which  claims 
original  jurisdiction  in  the  matter  of  granting  license, 
and  disregards  the  deliverance  of  the  General  Assembly, 
which  grew  out  of  the  Briggs  case. 

And  this  was  maintained  with  great  spirit  and  earnest- 
ness, only  two  weeks  ago,  in  the  Presbytery  of  New  York, 
so  we  had  substantially  a  Briggs  case  in  the  Presbytery 
of  New  Brunswick,  and  this  old  Amwell  Church,  directly 
concerned  in  the  matter  as  long  ago  as  in  1739.  And 
while  this  act  of  the  Presbytery  was  a  leading  factor  in 
causing  the  Schism  of  1741,  yet  it  is  pleasant  to  know 
that  New  Brunswick  acted  without  personal  bitterness, 
and  long  before  the  union  in  1758,  came  to  recognize  the 
fact  that  unity  was  much  to  be  preferred  to  division,  and 
that  authority  and  mutual  concession  are  better  than  dis- 
order and  variance. 

It  will  be  interesting  to  have  a  brief  account  of  Mr. 
Rowland's  labors  on  this  field.  At  the  time  "the  piety  of 
the  Church,  both  among  the  ministry  and  laity  was  in  a 
languid  condition."  There  had  been  an  awakening  a  few 
years  previous,  in  Freehold,  under  John  Tennent.  This 
began  to  be  felt  in  other  sections.     Whitefield  came  to 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  63 

America  In  1738.  His  preaching  deepened  this  interest. 
The  Tennents  and  Whitefield  were  in  full  accord  in 
Spiritual  matters  and  withal  sometimes  uncharitable,  not 
to  say  unchristian,  in  their  utterances  about  what  they 
regarded  as  an  unconverted  ministry.  Rowland  embraced 
the  views  of  Whitefield  and  the  Tennents.  He  writes 
that  at  the  Presbytery  in  1738,  the  congregations  of  Maid- 
enhead (Lawrenceville)  and  Hopewell  (Pennington)  put 
in  a  supplication  for  me.  The  opposition  to  him  that  arose 
afterward  about  the  manner  of  his  license  increased  to  so 
much  dislike  to  him  at  Hopewell  (Pennington)  that  the 
use  of  the  Church  was  denied  him.  Hence  he  preached  in 
private  houses,  and  in  barns.  Shortly  after  the  people  of 
the  Hopewell  Church,  who  desired  him,  obtained  permis- 
sion from  the  Presbytery,  and  erected  a  Church  for  his 
use.  It  was  nearer  the  river  than  the  present  Church  at 
Pennington.  After  the  reunion,  this  part  of  the  congre- 
gation returned  to  the  old  Church,  and  the  new  building 
went  down.  Rowland  labored  zealousy  in  these  two 
Churches.  He  writes  "there  is  another  town  (township 
he  means)  lying  contiguous  to  Hopewell,  which  is  called 
Am  well.  The  people  there,  are  something  numerous  like- 
wise, and  having  none  to  labor  among  them,  they  peti- 
tioned for  a  part  of  my  time,  namely,  one  Sabbath  in 
three."  His  ordination  for  this  field,  as  we  have  seen, 
led  to  the  serious  difference  between  the  Presbytery  and 
the  Synod.  He  continues,  "there  was  a  small  number  in 
Hopewell  and  Maidenhead,  truly  acquainted  with  vital 
religion,  as  far  as  I  could  judge,  before  I  came  among 
them.  They  seemed  so  earnest  in  prayer,  night  and  day, 
to  have  the  gospel  in  power  among  them,  as  if  they  would 


64  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

take  no  denial.  But  in  Amwell  there  were  very  few  who 
knew  the  Lord  Jesus  when  I  came  among  them.  Yet  in 
many  ways  they  were  an  agreeable  people." 

"The  subjects  I  insisted  on  for  about  six  months  were 
conviction  and  conversion.  Usually  I  made  use  of  the 
most  rousing  and  awakening  texts.  Some  began  to  be 
convinced  that  they  were  in  misery,  and  knew  not  the 
way  to  the  Kingdom  of  heaven.  I  commonly  preached  at 
night  as  well  as  in  the  day,  and  frequently  on  week  days. 
The  people  of  God  were  much  enlivened  to  see  poor  sin- 
ners convinced  of  the  perishing  nature  of  their  State,  and 
their  absolute  need  of  Christ.  The  effect  was  they  bore 
great  love  to  one  another,  and  sweet  peace  among  them- 
selves, so  that  I  was  not  interrupted  from  my  w^ork,  in 
making  up  differences  among  them." 

**In  the  month  of  May,  1739.  I  began  to  preach  on 
the  most  inviting  and  encouraging  subjects.  A  sermon 
from  the  text,  The  Master  is  come  and  calleth  for  thee, 
was  brought  home,  through  the  divine  influence,  upon 
many  Souls.  Solemn  weeping,  and  deep  concern  appeared 
throughout  the  congregation." 

Again  in  Amwell,  July  27th,  1 740  and  in  Maidenhead 
August  3rd,  God  was  pleased  to  magnify  his  grace,  in  vis- 
iting poor  sinners.  He  opened  their  eyes,  to  see  themselves 
without  Christ,  and  without  hope  in  the  world.  Their 
convictions  were  attended  with  great  horror  and  trem- 
bling, and  loud  weeping,  which  I  suppose  could  not  be 
stopped  so  easily  as  some  do  imagine  for  I  observed  that 
many  did  continue  crying  in  the  most  doleful  manner 
along  the  road,  on  their  way  home." 

On  one  occasion  after  sermon  I  enquired  of  these  per- 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  65 

sons  the  real  cause  of  their  crying  out  in  such  a  manner. 
Some  answered  me  "that  they  saw  hell  opening  before 
them,  and  themselves  ready  to  fall  into  it.  Others  an- 
swered that  they  were  struck  with  such  a  sense  of  their 
sinfulness,  that  they  were  afraid  the  Lord  would  never 
have  mercy  on  them." 

"As  to  the  issue  of  these  convictions,  many  of  them  were 
followed  with  sound  conversion.  Others  backslided  and 
became  stiff-necked  again,  though  the  numbers  of  the  back- 
sliding in  these  towns,  was  not  so  great  as  I  have  seen  in 
some  places.  One  great  means  to  prevent  backsliding 
from  convictions  in  Amwell  was  this;  when  the  husband 
was  taken,  the  wife  was  also  taken ;  or,  when  the  wife  was 
visited,  the  husband  was  also ;  so  they  were  ever  stirring  up 
each  other.  Many  such  instances  are  in  thfe  town  of  Am- 
well, upon  which  account  that  congregation  appears  to  me 
peculiarly  beautiful.  As  to  Maidenhead  and  Hopewell, 
I  believe  that  one  great  means  the  Lord  used  there  to 
prevent  backsliding,  was  the  care  and  diligence  of  some  of 
the  Christian  people  in  conversing  with  the  convinced." 
Mr.  Rowland  was  a  real  Boanerges  in  denouncing  the 
terrors  of  the  law  against  impenitent  sinners,  and  because 
of  his  faithfulness,  the  ungodly  nicknamed  him  "the  hell- 
fire  Rowland." 

A  very  brief  notice  of  Mr.  Rowland  after  he  left  Am- 
well, Hopewell  and  Maidenhead,  will  show  how  the  in- 
fluence of  the  first  Amwell  preacher  has  been  extended. 
He  went  from  here  to  the  Great  Valley  of  Providence  and 
Norristown,  Pa.  While  laboring  there,  the  grandfather 
of  Archibald  Alexander  was  converted.*     Also  the  an- 


*Dr.  Murphy's  Log  College  Presbytery. 
5 


66  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

cestors  of  Revs.  Robert,  Samuel  and  Hugh  Hamell,  D. 
D.,  were  converted  under  his  ministry.  Likewise  under 
his  preaching  and  that  of  Whitefield  the  soul  of  that  pre- 
eminent preacher,  Rev.  Samuel  Davies,  afterwards  presi- 
dent of  Princeton  College  caught  its  inspiration.  Another 
fact  of  deep  interest  was  the  visit  of  Whitefield  to  Am- 
well.  He  was  undoubtedly  the  greatest  preacher  since  the 
Reformation.  Mr.  Webster  and  Dr.  Mott  have  placed 
this  visit  of  Whitefield  to  the  Amwell  Church  in  1739. 
Long  ago  I  became  convinced  there  was  an  error  as  to  this 
date,  believing  the  time  to  have  been  in  1740,  I  wrote  to 
Rev.  Mr.  Dulles,  librarian  of  the  Theological  Seminary' 
Library  at  Princeton,  asking  him  to  investigate  the  matter. 
He  answered  that  I  was  correct,  since  a  volume  in  the 
library  made  Whitefield's  visit  to  Amwell  in  1740. 

I  was  not  satisfied  to  make  the  correction  on  this  tes- 
timony alone.  Hence,  when  I  was  in  Philadelphia  re- 
cently, searching  for  material  for  this  history,  I  looked 
up  the  matter  of  Whitefield's  visit.  In  the  memoirs  of 
the  Life  of  Whitefield,  compiled  by  Rev.  John  Gillies, 
D.  D.,  and  published  in  1772,  I  found  extracts  from 
Whitefield's  journal,  written  by  William  Seward,  White- 
field's  companion  in  travel. 

In  a  continuous  extract  from  that  journal  we  have: 

April  13,  1740.  Mr.  Tennent  informed  us  of  the 
great  success  which  had  attended  on  brother  Whitefield's 
preaching  when  last  here. 

April  14.  Mr.  Jones,  a  Baptist  minister,  told  us  of  two 
other  ministers  who  were  affected  with  our  brother  White- 
field's  spirit,  viz.,  Mr.  Treat  and  Mr.  Morgan. 

April  18.    This  day  was  published  our  brother  White- 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  67 

field's  letter  to  the  inhabitants  of  Md.,  Va.  and  N.  and 
S.  Carolina  about  their  abuse  of  the  poor  negroes. 

April  22nd.  Agreed  with  Mr.  Allen  for  5,000  acres 
of  land  at  the  Forks  of  the  Delaware  for  2,20o£  Sterling; 
the  conveyance  to  be  made  to  Mr.  Whitefield,  and  after 
that  assigned  to  me,  as  security  for  my  advancing  the 
money.  Mr.  Whitefield  proposes  to  give  orders  for  build- 
ing the  negro  school  on  the  purchased  land  before  he 
leaves  the  province. 

April  24th.  We  came  to  Mr.  Wigner's  plantation  in 
Skippack,  where  many  Dutch  people  are  settled,  and  where 
the  famous  Mr.  Spalenburg,  (Spangenburg)  resided  late- 
ly. It  was  surprising  to  see  such  a  multitude  of  people 
gathered  in  such  a  wilderness  country,  thirty  miles  distant 
from  Philadelphia  ( !)  Our  brother  was  singularly  carried 
out  in  his  sermon  to  press  poor  sinners  to  come  to  Christ 
by  faith,  and  claim  all  their  privileges,  viz,  not  only 
righteousness  and  peace,  but  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost.  Af- 
ter he  had  done,  our  dear  friend,  Peter  Boehler  preached 
in  Dutch,  to  those  who  could  not  understand  our  brother 
in  English.  Before  our  brother  left  Philadelphia  he  was 
desired  to  visit  one  who  was  under  a  deep  sense  of  sin, 
from  having  heard  him  preach.  And  in  praying  with  this 
person,  he  was  carried  beyond  himself,  so  that  the  whole 
company  who  were  about  twenty,  seemed  to  be  filled  with 
the  Holy  Ghost,  and  magnified  the  God  of  heaven. 

"April  25th.  We  rose  at  three  o'clock  and  though  our 
brother  Whitefield  was  very  weak  in  body,  yet  the  Lord 
enabled  him  to  ride  near  fifty  (50)  miles  and  to  preach 
to  about  five  thousand  (5,000)  people  at  Amwell,  with 
the  same  power  as  usual.     Mr.  Gilbert  Tennent,  Mr. 


68  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Rowland,  Mr.  Wales,  and  Mr.  Campbell,  four  godly 
ministers,  met  us  here.  These  brethren  are  said  to  have 
given  the  people  three  sermons  before  the  arrival  of  Mr. 
Whitefield.  Saturday,  April  26,  v^e  came  to  Nev^^  Bruns- 
vt^ick,  and  preached  there  and  on  Sabbath  to  seven  thou- 
sand people.  Nevi^  Jersey  Archives  XH,  page  26,  corrob- 
orates this  date.  The  statement  of  5,000  at  Amwell 
April  25,  1740,  looks  almost  like  an  impossibility.  Know^- 
ing  how  people  are  prone  to  overestimate  numbers  at  any 
gathering,  I  so  regarded  it  when  I  first  saw  it.  But  the 
evidences  convince  me  it  may  be  received  as  accurate.  Let 
us  remember  the  intense  religious  feeling  now  awakened, 
and  the  marvellous  oratorical  powers  of  the  preacher,  Ben- 
jamin Franklin  went  to  hear  him  in  a  cold  calculating  way 
to  find  out  the  secret  of  his  power,  but  soon  found  himself 
a  captive.  His  statement  is  that  so  loud  and  clear  was 
Whitefield's  voice  and  so  distinct  his  articulation  that  he 
estimated  he  could  be  heard  by  30,000  people.  He  was 
less  than  a  month  in  Philadelphia  and  yet  so  great  was  the 
change  wrought  that  there  was  religious  service  held 
every  day  for  a  year  after,  and  three  times  on  Sabbath. 
Twenty-six  associations  for  prayer  were  formed.  The 
judges  at  Chester  hearing  he  was  to  preach  in  their  town, 
sent  him  word  they  would  adjourn  the  court  until  after 
the  sermon.  A  platform  was  erected  and  he  preached  to 
seven  thousand.  At  Wilmington  he  preached  twice  to 
five  thousand.  At  Philadelphia  ten  thousand  assembled 
on  Society  Hill  to  hear  his  last  sermon.  On  Sabbath  at 
White  Clay  Creek  to  eight  thousand.  When  he  left  Phil- 
adelphia, a  thousand  people  accompanied  him  on  horseback 
out  of  the  city.  But  where  did  the  five  thousand  come 
from  ?    From  far  and  near.    As  evidence,  an  Indian  Chief 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  69 

was  known  to  walk  fifty  miles  to  attend  communion  at 
Crosswicks  in  the  days  of  David  Brainard.  When  White- 
field  arose  at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  so  weak  as  to 
need  help  to  mount  his  horse,  and  rode  from  Philadelphia 
to  Amwell  to  preach,  could  not  the  people  go  an  equal 
distance.  The  reputation  of  the  man,  his  matchless  ora- 
tory, and  the  intense  interest  of  the  people  make  it  possi- 
ble. To-day  people  interested,  will  go  from  twenty  to 
forty  miles  to  attend  a  State  Fair,  to  see  some  machinery, 
some  fancy  work,  some  fine  horses,  cattle  or  sheep,  because 
interested.  Those  were  the  days,  when  a  man  was  thought 
to  be  better  than  a  sheep,  and  an  interest  in  the  Kingdom 
of  more  moment  than  the  success  of  a  party,  and  a  man's 
soul  of  more  value  than  earthly  goods.  So  I  believe  it, 
"Five  thousand  at  Amwell  to  hear  Whitefield."  And  as 
we  are  to-day  working  and  preserving  and  honoring  every 
house  where  Washington  may  have  stopped  for  a  night  or 
a  few  days  at  most,  so  may  we  count  it  an  honor,  and 
cherish  the  fact  with  much  pleasure  that  April  25th,  1740, 
Whitefield,  the  prince  of  preachers,  honored  our  church 
with  his  presence  and  his  labors,  and  drew  together  this 
vast  audience  of  five  thousand  people  to  hear  him.  Of 
course  the  sermon  was  delivered  by  the  Church,  not  in  it. 
After  Mr.  Rowland  left  Amwell,  the  Church  continued 
to  be  served  by  supplies.  August  2nd,  1742,  a  call  was 
presented  to  Presbytery  for  the  services  of  a  Mr.  McCrea, 
(supposed  to  be  Rev.  James  McCrea,  licensed  by  Presby- 
tery November  5th,  1739,  and  ordained  August  4th, 
1 741).  The  answer  of  Presbytery  was  that  Mr.  McCrea 
supply  Amwell  as  formerly.  He  continued  with  the 
Church,  as  supply  until  May  28th,  1745.  May  26th, 
J  746,  Mr.  Davenport  was  appointed  to  supply  Second 


70  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Bethlehem  one-quarter  of  his  time,  Amwell  one-half  his 
time,  and  the  remaining  quarter  at  Hopewell  and  Maiden- 
head. May  19th,  1747,  Amwell  petitioned  for  three- 
fourths  of  Mr.  Davenport's  time,  which  was  granted. 

This  arrangement  soon  ceased.  Mr.  Davenport  sup- 
plied Amwell  only  occasionally  after  that,  in  1747,  and 
in  1748.  In  October,  as  already  stated,  the  Rev.  Charles 
Beatty  was  appointed  to  supply  Amwell  one-fourth  of  his 
time,  and  Mr.  James  Campbell  three  Sabbaths  before  our 
next.  Mr.  Beatty,  you  remember,  married  Ann,  daugh- 
ter of  Governor  Reading.  He  and  Mr.  Campbell,  Mr. 
Allen  and  Mr.  Chestnut  were  among  the  supplies.  Mr. 
Campbell  was  the  principal  supply  until  June  12th,  1750, 
when  he  declined  a  call  to  Amwell,  previously  received, 
and  accepted  one  to  New  Providence  and  Charlestown. 

It  will  be  a  surprise  to  many,  I  am  sure,  to  be  informed 
that  May  ist,  1749,  this  Church  held  a  Lottery.  This 
was  a  common  practice  at  that  day  among  the  churches 
and  colleges  when  they  wished  to  raise  money.  The  Col- 
lege of  New  Jersey  did  this,  (See  New  Jersey  Archives, 
Vol.  XII,  Plrst  Series),  which  also  gives  an  account  of 
the  Amwell  Lottery,  as  here  presented,  and  of  many 
others.  The  Legislature,  however,  passed  an  act  at  that 
very  time,  making  them  unlawful. 

SCHEME 

Of  The 

Amwell  in  New- Jersey  LOTTERY, 

For  raising  Six  Hundred  and  Thirty  Pounds,  for  the 
finishing  the  Presbyterian  Meeting-House,  and  buying  a 
Parsonage. 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  71 

Number  of  Prizes.  Value  of  Each.       Total  Value. 

2  of  £100  are  £200 


3 

of 

50 

are 

150 

8 

of 

30 

are 

240 

12 

of 

15 

are 

180 

25 

of 

10 

are 

250 

40 

of 

5 

are 

200 

150 

of 

3 

are 

450 

200 

of 

2 

are 

400 

990 

of 

£     I .  los. 

are 

1485 

Prizes      1430 

First  drawr 

I 

5 

Blanks     4170 

Last  drawn 
From  which 

10 

5600 

3570 

Tickets  at  15s.  each, 

is  £4200 

deduct  I5£  per 

630 

Cent. 

is 

£4200 

The  Drawing  to  commence  on  or  before  the  First  Day 
of  November  next,  at  the  Meeting-House  abovesaid,  if 
filled  by  that  Time,  under  the  Care  and  Management 
of  Martin  Ryerson,  Esq. ;  and  Messrs.  Peter  Prall,  Mich- 
ael Henry,  and  Emanuel  Coryel,  who  are  to  dispose  of 
the  Tickets,  and  to  be  under  Oath  for  the  faithful  Man- 
agement of  the  same.  The  Fortunate  are  to  receive  their 
Prizes  entire;  the  15  per  Cent,  being  deducted  from 
the  whole  Sum  produced  by  the  Sale  of  the  Tickets  be- 
fore the  Drawing  begins,  and  not  from  the  Prizes  after 
they  are  Drav^rn:  Fourteen  Days  Notice  at  least  to  be 
given  before  the  Day  of  Drawing;   the  Prizes  are  to  be 


72  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

printed  in  this  Paper,  when  the  Drawing  is  concluded. — 
The  Pennsylvania  Journal,  September  i,  1748. 

The  Managers  of  the  Amwell  Lottery,  hereby  give 
Notice,  that  they  intend  to  put  the  Numbers  in  the  Boxes, 
the  latter  End  of  April  next,  so  as  to  begin  the  Drawing 
thereof  on  Monday  the  first  Day  of  May,  when  they  will 
certainly  proceed  therein  without  any  further  Delay  or 
postponing;  Mean  while  there  remains  some  Tickets  in 
the  Hands  of  the  Managers  to  be  sold  as  usual. — The 
N.  Y.  Gazette  Revived  in  the  Weekly  post  Boy,  Feb. 
27,  1749.  See  N.  J.  Archives,  First  Series,  Vol.  XH, 
page  483. 

THE    FIRST    PASTOR,    REV.    ELIAB    BYRAM. 
I75I  — 1754. 

The  time  came  at  length,  however,  for  relief  from  the 
unsatisfactory  system  of  supplies.  The  first  settled  pastor 
of  the  Church,  was  the  Rev.  Eliab  By  ram.  Mr.  Byram 
was  born  at  Bridgewater,  Mass.,  and  graduated  at  Har- 
vard College  in  1740.  His  ancestor  Nicholas  Byram,  set- 
tled in  Bridgewater  in  1660.  He  became  pastor  of  Roc- 
siticus,   now   Mendam,   New  Jersey,   in   October,    1743. 

Rocsitlcus  was  placed  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery 
of  New  Brunswick  in  1738,  but  at  its  own  request  was 
restored  to  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  the  next  year, 
Mr.  Byram  was  present  at  the  formation  of  the  Synod  of 
New  York  in  1745. 

The  celebrated  David  Brainard  had  Mr.  Byram  for 
his  companion  in  his  first  journey  to  the  Susquehanna  in 
1746.  Brainard  speaks  of  him  with  much  affection.  Mr. 
Byram  afterward  labored  in  1746,  and  1747,  in  Augusta 
Co.,  Va.,  and  his  labors  there  were  greatly  blessed.    The 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  73 

awakening  resulting  therefrom,  lasted  until  1751  (Web- 
ster). Falling  Spring  and  Providence  called  him  in  1747, 
having  had  experience  of  his  faithfulness  and  ability,  but 
he  declined  to  settle  in  Virginia.  His  very  success  in  Vir- 
ginia, brought  him  into  trouble,  for  there  was  a  very  bit- 
ter feeling  excited  against  him  by  "The  Old  Side,"  which 
stirred  up  the  government  of  Virginia  against  the  reviv- 
alist.* Mr.  Byram  had  Mr.  Deane,  of  Brandywinc 
Manor,  Pa.,  and  a  graduate  of  the  Log  College,  with  him, 
in  these  missionary  labors  in  Virginia. 

Mr.  Byram  joined  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick 
May  22nd,  1 75 1.  He  became  at  this  time  a  supply  for  Am- 
well.  He  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  this  Church  Jime 
25th.  He  was  duly  installed  as  pastor  of  Amwell  First 
Church,  August  14th,  1751. 

He  married  "Phebe,  daughter  of  Ephraim  Leonard,  of 
Raynham,  of  an  ancient  and  honorable  family,"  the  his- 
torian says.  So  there  was  a  good  beginning  in  the  first 
pastorate  of  this  Church  in  this,  that  the  pastor's  wife  was 
as  is  becoming,  of  an  "honorable  family."  And  we  must 
not  overlook,  what  it  is  very  pleasant  to  record,  that  the 
first  pastor  of  this  church,  was  so  imbued  with  the  mis- 
sionary spirit,  that  he  was  an  acceptable  companion  to  the 
Sainted  Brainard,  the  great  missionary  to  the  Indians, 
and  that  he  himself  gave  a  part  of  his  early  years  to  other 
missionary  labors.  In  the  Amwell  Valley,  after  he  settled 
here,  he  cherished  the  same  spirit,  for  we  learn  that  here 
Mr.  Byram's  labors  were  so  successful  that  in  1754,  the 
year  of  his  death  the  Presbytery  was  petitioned  by  the 

*Dr.  Mott. 


74  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

people  bordering  on  the  Delaware,"  to  give  them  the 
privilege  of  building  a  meeting  house  for  their  own  con- 
venience. This  was  granted,  and  a  separate  congregation 
was  formed,  and  a  Church  built  at  Mount  Airy,  which 
was  called  the  Second  Amwell  Church.  These  two  Am- 
well  Churches  continued  as  united  charge,  served  by  the 
same  pastor  down  to  1818,  (Dr.  Mott).  The  petition 
presented  to  Presbytery  for  the  organization  of  a  church 
at  Mt.  Airy  was  presented  "by  the  people  bordering  on  the 
Delaware."  This  gives  the  western  boundary  of  the 
charge  as  at  first  constituted,  and  continued  until  the 
church  at  Lambertville  was  organized.  On  the  east  there 
was  no  church  until  you  come  to  Reading  Town,  as  it  was 
then  called.  Many  of  the  strong  families  on  the  north 
came  from  Flemington  and  miles  beyond,  as  the  nearest 
churches  in  that  direction  were  those  of  Bethlehem  and 
Kingwood  as  now  named.  The  only  churches  within 
these  boundaries  was  the  Episcopal  Church  at  Ringoes, 
and  the  Dutch  Calvinistic  Church  at  Larison's  Corner, 
organized  in  1749.  To  the  northwest  was  the  German 
Baptist  Church  at  headquarters  organized  in  1732  (Con- 
verse). 

Upon  this  territory  constituting  the  pastoral  charge  of 
Mr.  Byram,  when  he  was  installed,  and  from  all  parts  of 
which  he  had  members  in  attendance,  there  are  now  seven 
Presbyterian  Churches,  two  Reformed  Churches,  and 
many  Methodist  and  Baptist  Churches. 

The  Presbyterian  Churches  are  Amwell  First,  organized 
before  1737,  Amwell  Second,  organized  1754,  Fleming- 
ton  1792.  Amwell  United  First  1810,  although  it  had  ex- 
isted as  a  Dutch  Calvinistic  meeting  house  since  1747. 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  75 

Lambertville  1821,  Stocton  1867,  Kirkpatrick  Memorial 
1868,  with  an  aggregate  membership  of  1608,  in  1898, 
and  1552  in  1907. 

During  Mr.  Byram's  pastorate  in  the  year  1753?  a 
subscription  was  made  for  purchasing  a  parsonage.  There 
are  on  file  three  copies  of  the  subscription  paper  circu- 
lated for  this  purpose.  These  are  the  oldest  papers  known 
to  be  in  existence,  pertaining  to  the  Church.  These  pa- 
pers are  so  tender  and  torn  that  their  further  preserva- 
tion and  use  will  be  very  difficult.  For  this  reason  the 
paper  will  be  copied  entire.  It  is  certainly  worthy  this 
distinction.  The  paper  is  deeply  interesting,  as  showing 
the  earnest  purpose  of  our  ancestors  and  predecessors  wiien 
they  were  making  a  subscription  for  Church  purposes. 
They  not  only  are  careful  to  bind  themselves  for  the  pay- 
ment of  the  sum  subscribed,  but  their  heirs  and  execu- 
tors as  well.     The  paper  reads  as  follows: 

"We,  the  Subscribers  do  hereby  separately,  apart  and 
for  himself,  and  his  Several  and  Respective  Heirs,  Execu- 
tors and  Administrators,  Covenant  And  bind  ourselves, 
and  each  of  us  in  the  penalty  of  Double  the  Sum  affixed 
to  our  Several  names  to  pay,  or  cause  to  be  paid,  to  Derick 
Hoagland,  Robert  Combs,  James  Stout,  Derick  Sutphen 
or  Abraham  Larew;  or  the  Survivours  of  them,  or  Such 
other  persons  as  shall  at  any  time  be  chosen  hereafter,  or 
by  the  Heads  of  the  Presbyterian  Congregation  in  Am- 
well,  be  appointed  (as  well  as  if  they  were  expressed  by 
name)  their  Executors,  Administrators  or  Assigns,  or 
either  of  them,  Such  sum  and  Sums  of  money  as  are  Af- 
fixed or  Subscribed  to  our  Several  Respective  Names,  to 
be  in  Such  proportion  as  the  payments  equal  to  the  pay- 


76  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

mcnts  that  shall  be  agreed  on  by  the  Managers  that  may 
be  chosen  for  the  purchasing  of  a  Parsonage,  which  shall 
be  thought  by  the  persons  Appointed,  fitting,  necessary, 
and  convenient  for  the  Seat  of  a  Presbyterian  Minister 
which  now  is,  or  may  hereafter  be  called,  induced  or  or- 
dained for  the  Afforsaid  congregation.  Witness  the  Hands 
of  us  the  Subscribers  fully,  freely  and  voluntarily  Con- 
senting to  the  above  engagement.     Amwell  Feb.   1753." 

Then  follows  a  list  of  the  subscribers,  which  has  many 
interesting  features,  but  chiefly  as  showing  who  were  on 
the  ground,  and  interested  in  the  Church  at  that  early 
day  in  her  history,  one  hundred  and  forty-six  years  ago. 

The  subscribers  are  as  follows.  I  give  the  spelling  as 
found  on  the  paper  as  accurately  as  it  can  be  made  out. 
The  money  is  in  pounds  and  shillings,  in  the  subscription. 
In  the  payment  which  I  shall  not  quote,  it  is  in  pence 
also,  which  is  accounted  for,  because  evidently  notes  were 
given,  and  interest  collected  on  the  subscriptions  when 
not  paid  down.  There  is  also  a  distinction  made  of  sub- 
scribers north  of  the  Neshanic,  and  south  of  the  Ne- 
shanic : 

On  the  North.  £  s. 

John  Reading  Jr 2  10 

John  Reading   10  00 

John  Reading   3  00 

Jacob  Gray   5  00 

Jacob  Gray   i  10 

Daniel  Reading i 

Jacob   Mattison    6  00 

Jacob  Mattison "  2  00 

Martin  Rycrson   2  00 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  77 

Daniel  Griggs 7  00 

David  Bartron    3  00 

John  Smith   i  00 

George  Reading 5  06 

Eliz  Harney   15 

James   Stout    6  lO 

Richard  Philips 5  00 

John  Anderson   8  00 

William  Anderson    5  00 

Samuel  Carman 2  00 

Samuel  Furman    i  00 

Thomas  Hunt 4  00 

Jonathan  Hill 5  OO 

Samuel  Fleming   6  00 

Michael  Henry ? 5  00 

Richard   Reading    15 

Samuel  Hill    5  00 

Derrick  Sutphin   5  OO 

Derrick    Sutphin    I    10 

John   Frances    7-6 

John   Cox    I  00 

William  Davison   i  05 

John  Wood 15 

Henry  Dildine   i  OO 

Nathaniel  Bogart   15 

Abraham  Larew   5  00 

On  the  South  Side : 

Peter  Prall   10  OO 

Benjamin  Johnson    5  OO 

Benjamin  Johnson    i  00 

Peter  Prall,  Jr I   10 


78  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Abraham  Prall   2  05 

Garret  Schenck 5  00 

Garret  Schenck i    15 

Garret  Schenck 05 

William   Schenck    i  05 

William  Schenck    10 

Daniel  Larew 10 

Thomas  Harding i  00 

Jacobus  Johnson   6  00 

Gerardus  Lequier 2  00 

Samuel  Kompton    15 

John  Corwin i    10 

Joseph  Corwin    i    10 

Simeon  Kinney   2  00 

Peter  Lott 10 

Ester  Corwin    05 

James  Stout    6  10 

Jacob  Sutphen i  05 

Alexander  McElheny 15 

Eliab    Byram    10  00 

Joseph   Reading    15 

Jonathan  Stout  i   10 

Benjamin  Howell i  00 

Stephen  Gano   15 

Tunis   Quick    15 

Thomas  Lake 10 

William  Wilgus 6-3 

Joseph  Sargeant   12-6 

Some  of  the  names  last  given  are  not  classified  as  to 
North  and  South  side  of  the  Neshanic,  and  consequently 
may  not  here  be  placed  accurately.     But  the  distinction 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  79 

between  the  North  and  South  sides  of  the  Neshanic  was 
kept  up  in  all  subscription  papers  for  many  years.  Later 
the  North  side  was  known  as  the  Flemington  division. 

Mr.  By  ram  continued  in  the  pastorate  of  the  Church 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  before  May,  1754.  His 
remains  are  supposed  to  lie  under  a  horizontal  slab  in  the 
cemetery,  near  the  place  where  the  old  Church  stood. 
But  the  hand  of  time  has  obliterated  every  trace  of  what- 
ever inscription  may  have  been  placed  upon  it. 

So  within  less  than  three  years  of  incessant  labor  in 
this  large  field,  and  doing  the  work  of  a  missionary  be- 
sides, the  first  pastor  died,  and  was  buried,  and  only  by 
vague  tradition  can  we  tell  his  grave.  But  better  than 
monument  of  marble  is  the  work  he  did.  These  works 
follow  him  and  testify  of  his  zeal  for  the  Master,  nor 
will  the  unmarked  grave  be  unknown,  on  the  morning  of 
the  resurrection. 

Derrick  Hoagland  is  the  first  representative  of  the 
Church  in  Presbytery.  He  attended  the  meeting  at  Bound 
Brook,  May  30th,  1753,  when  he  asked  for  supplies  for 
Amwell.  As  Mr.  Byram  was  still  pastor,  this  application 
leads  to  the  inference  that  the  pastor  was  either  off  doing 
some  missionary  work  in  the  colonies,  or  was  in  too  poor 
health  to  fill  the  pulpit.  Mr.  Hoagland  subsequently  ap- 
pears in  Presbytery  as  an  elder,  which  shows  him  to  have 
been  the  first  elder  of  the  Church  so  far  as  is  now  known. 

THE   SECOND   PASTOR  WAS  REV.    BENJAMIN   HAIT. 
1755— 1765. 

The  second  pastor  of  Amwell  First,  was  Benjamin 
Hait,  or  Hoit  as  his  name  is  pronounced,  and  sometimes 


8o  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

spelled.  Webster  says  Mr.  Hait  was  probably  a  native 
of  Norwalk,  Connecticut.  He  graduated  at  Nassau  Hall 
in  1754.  While  a  student  he  went,  in  company  with 
Davies,  afterward  president  of  the  College  of  N.  J.,  from 
Newark  to  New  York.  "A  promising  young  man,"  he 
observes,  "I  had  an  agreeable  conversation  with  him  on 
original  sin,  and  the  influence  of  the  flesh  upon  the  spirit 
to  incline  it  to  sin."* 

Mr.  Hait  was  taken  on  trials  by  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Brunswick,  as  soon  as  he  had  received  his  diploma 
September  27th,  1754.  He  was  licensed  October  25th 
and  sent  to  supply  the  Forks  of  the  Delaware.  In  the  fol- 
lowing May,  Am  well  and  the  Forks  asked  for  him,  and 
Fagg's  Manor  made  him  a  call.  Amwell  presented  a  call 
to  him  November  nth,  1755,  which  he  accepted.  He 
was  ordained  and  installed  December  4th,  1755.*  The 
pastoral  relation  was  dissolved  May  30th,  1765.  From 
Amwell  Mr.  Hait  removed  to  Walkill,  N.  Y.,  and  after- 
ward settled  at  Connecticut  Farms,  N.  J.,  where  he  died 
June  27,  1779. 

During  Mr.  Hait's  pastorate  in  the  Amwell  Churches, 
death  entered  his  household.  On  a  tombstone  in  our  old 
burying  ground  is  the  only  record  the  church  has  of  his 
stay  among  us.  That  reads,  "Nancy,  daughter  of  Benj. 
and  Ann  Hait,  born  September  21st,  1757,  died  Septem- 
ber 20th,  1759." 

In  1756  Michael  Henry  is  named  in  the  records  of  the 
Presbytery  among  the  elders  in  attendance  at  that  meet- 


*Webster. 
*Rccords  Presby. 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  gi 

ing.  He  Is  undoubtedly  the  same  Michael  Henry,  at 
whose  house  the  first  meeting  of  Presbytery  in  Amwell 
was  held. 

Evidently  Mr.  Hait  was  a  man  of  ability  and  had  the 
esteem  of  his  brethren  as  the  Records  of  Synod  show.  The 
same  minute  is  also  interesting,  as  informing  us  of  the 
manner  of  caring  for  theological  students  at  that  early 
day. 

Newark,  September  30th,  1756,  Synod  of  New  York  in 
session.  !*  [  ..  j 

"Whereas,  the  Synod  appointed  such  Scholars  as  expect 
any  part  of  the  fund  designed  for  the  education  of  pious 
youth  to  be  examined  by  Synod  at  their  annual  meeting 
and  the  Synod  finding  they  are  unable  through  multiplicity 
of  business,  and  by  reason  of  the  absence  of  some  that  de- 
signed to  offer  themselves,  to  have  their  examinations  be- 
fore their  own  body  at  this  meeting,  do  appoint  Messrs. 
Burr,  William  Tennent,  Brainard,  Davenport,  Treat  Mc- 
Knight,  Cummins  and  Hait  to  be  a  committee  to  meet  at 
Princeton  23rd  day  of  November  next,  to  examine  such 
candidates  as  ofifer,  and  determine  what  proportion  of  said 
money  each  shall  have  the  ensuing  year.  The  committee 
met  as  appointed,  and  granted  assistance  as  follows:  to 
John  Strain  £24,  to  John  Carmikle  £12  for  the  year. 

Again  Synod  met  at  Maidenhead  May  i8th,  1757.  The 
Synod  at  this  meeting  (and  you  will  notice  it  was  during 
his  pastorate  in  these  Amwell  Churches,)  appointed  Mr. 
Hait  to  go  to  the  vacant  places  in  the  South  as  soon  as 
his  afiEairs  will  permit,  and  spend  four  months  among  the 
people  there.*     From  this  appointment  we  see  that  the 


*Records  of  Synod. 
6 


82  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Second  pastor  of  this  Church,  like  the  first  was  personally 
Interested  in  the  cause  of  missions.  And  also  that  the 
Church  surrendered  his  service  that  he  might  engage  in 
this  mission  work  for  a  period  of  four  months. 

I  much  doubt  if  this  Church  ever  made  a  collection  for 
missions  during  its  entire  history,  equal  in  value  to  the 
services  of  their  pastor,  for  a  period  of  four  months.  It 
is  also  pleasing  to  record  the  fact  to  Mr.  Hait's  honor,  that 
he  was  elected  moderator  of  the  Synod  of  New  York  and 
Philadelphia  which  met  at  Philadelphia  May  22nd,  1776 
(Mott).  This  honor  came  to  him  during  his  pastorate 
at  Connecticut  Farms.  Of  his  subsequent  history  we 
know  nothing  except  what  has  been  stated. 

THE    THIRD    PASTOR    WAS    REV.    WILLIAM    KIRKPATRICK, 

I  766-1769. 

From  the  time  of  Mr.  Hait's  dismission  May  30th, 
1765,  to  August,  1766,  the  Church  was  served  by  sup- 
plies. Among  these  was  the  Rev.  William  Kirkpatrick, 
who  became  the  third  pastor  of  the  Church. 

Mr.  Kirkpatrick  graduated  at  the  college  of  N.  J.  in 
1757,  being  a  member  of  the  first  class  that  graduated 
after  the  removal  of  the  college  to  Princeton.  Judging 
from  his  age  at  the  time  of  his  death,  as  given  on  his 
tombstone,  he  must  have  been  about  thirty  years  old  when 
he  graduated.  That  was  the  year  in  which  president  Burr 
died.  It  was  in  that  year  the  college  was  blessed  with  a 
precious  revival  of  religion. 

One  of  his  classmates  was  Joseph  Reed,  afterward  Gov- 
ernor of  Pennsylvania.  Another  was  Rev.  Alexander 
MacWhorter,  D.  D.     In  the  following  year  1758,  oc- 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  83 

curred  the  Union  of  the  Synods  of  New  York  and  Phila- 
delphia. At  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Bruns- 
wick in  June  of  that  year,  Kirkpatrick  and  MacWhorter 
were  taken  under  trials  as  candidates  for  the  ministry. 
Presbytery  pronounced  themselves  so  well  pleased  with 
their  preliminary  examination,  as  to  encourage  them  to 
proceed  in  their  design.  The  theme  for  Kirkpatrick's 
exegeses  was,  An  certitudo  subjectiva  salutis  sit  de  essentia 
fidei  justificantis.  His  trial  text  was  Rom.  3  :28.  On  the 
25th  of  next  month  the  Presbytery  met  at  Princeton, 
when  the  only  business  was  to  hear  and  approve  the  com- 
position of  the  two  candidates,  and  giving  them  texts  for 
further  exegesis.  Kirkpatrick's  second  trial  text  was  Phil. 
4:5.  These  were  heard  August  15th,  when  both  were  li- 
censed and  sent  out  to  supply  vacant  congregations  till  fall 
Presbytery.  Kirkpatrick's  appointments  were  Oxford- 
Forks  of  the  Delaware,  Greenwich,  Bethlehem  and  King- 
wood. 

In  June,  1759,  the  united  congregations  of  Bethlehem 
and  Kingwood  brought  a  call  to  Mr.  Kirkpatrick.  A  call 
or  "petition"  as  was  the  term  then  in  use,  was  also  pre- 
sented for  his  services  from  Tohikan,  Tehicken  or  Tini- 
cum,  the  Church  whence  came  Benjamin  Carrell  one  of 
the  pastors  of  this  Church.  But  Synod,  which  at  times 
exercised  Presbyterial  functions,  had  at  its  sessions  a  month 
before,  ordered  that  Kirkpatrick,  MacWhorter  and  Latta 
take  a  journey  to  Virginia  and  Carolina  as  early  in  the 
summer  or  fall  as  possible,  and  minister  to  the  destitute  in 
those  parts  for  several  months.  Presbyteries  also  acted  for 
sessions,  as  we  find  this  item  in  the  record  of  transactions, 
that  in  October,  1756,  Jacob  Reeder,  a  member  of  Hope- 


84  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

well  and  Maidenhead  congregations  asked  Presbytery  to 
dismiss  him  to  Amwell  on  account  of  convenience,  which 
request  Presbytery  granted.  On  their  return  from  the 
South  Presbytery  hastened  to  ordain  Kirkpatrick  and 
MacWhorter.  Kirkpatrick's  text  was  "The  poor  have 
the  Gospel  preached  to  them,"  and  for  a  Latin  exegesis 
"The  Perseverance  of  the  Saints." 

These  were  presented  July  4th,  1759,  and  both  candi- 
dates were  ordained  on  that  day  "Sine  titulo."  Kirk- 
patrick declined  the  calls  to  Bethlehem  and  Kingwood. 
The  Trenton  First  Church  asked  for  Kirkpatrick  as  a 
supply  March  nth,  1760,  and  he  was  directed  to  preach 
there  as  many  Sabbaths  as  may  consist  with  his  other  obli- 
gations, between  this  and  next  Presbytery. 

The  French  war  was  now  drawing  near  its  close,  yet 
was  calling  out  loyal  colonists  on  the  frontiers.  May 
2 1  St,  1760,  Synod  directed  Kirkpatrick  to  go  with  the 
New  Jersey  forces  in  the  ensuing  campaign  for  a  short 
time." 

He  was  back  in  season  for  the  meeting  of  Presbytery 
in  Princeton  February  3rd,  1761,  at  which  time  he  was 
clerk  of  Presbytery.  Other  congregations  asked  for  his 
services.  In  April  28th,  1761,  Trenton  made  a  call  for 
him  as  their  pastor.  May,  1761,  we  find  him  on  a  com- 
mittee of  nine  to  devise  ways  for  the  better  support  of 
John  Brainard,  as  missionary  to  the  Indians.  Brainard 
left  his  Church  at  Newark  for  this  Mission  on  the  solici- 
tations of  the  Indians  themselves.  They  had  become  des- 
titute by  the  death  of  his  brother,  David.  Crosswicks,  the 
place  hallowed  by  these  associations  is  but  a  few  miles 
from  Trenton.    Though  last  named  on  the  committee,  the 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  85 

overture  urging  an  increase  in  the  funds  as  well  as  the  la- 
borers, is  from  the  pen  of  Kirkpatrick. 

At  the  meetings  of  Presbytery,  during  the  intervals  of 
Synod,  applications  were  mlde  for  the  service  of  Mr. 
Kirkpatrick  from  Elizabeth  town,  Brunswick  and  Deer- 
field.  Presbytery  allowed  him  to  dispose  of  his  time  as  he 
deemed  best.  The  Trenton  call  had  not  been  accepted, 
though  he  was  still  with  them  much  of  his  time.  It  seems 
that  while  he  was  inclined  to  Trenton,  "the  congregation 
were  so  backward  on  the  point  of  salary,  that  he  held  the 
matter  in  suspense."  When  Presbytery  met  August  nth, 
there  was  placed  before  it  a  call  for  Mr.  Kirkpatrick  to 
Hanover,  Va.,  presented  by  Captain  Samuel  Morris  and 
Captain  William  Craighead,  the  commissioners  from  that 
Church.  To  this  Trenton  made  objection.  Towards  the 
end  of  1 761  Trenton  Church  appeared  before  Presbytery 
with  some  advance  on  the  amount  of  salary  previously  of- 
fered, and  Presbytery  expressed  their  gratification  at  the 
exertion  made  to  this  end,  but  pronounced  the  "medium 
proposed  to  be  inadequate."  As  the  commissioners  gave 
reason  to  hope  that  a  still  further  effort  would  be  made 
for  said  medium's  being  increased.  Presbytery  advised 
Mr.  Kirkpatrick  to  officiate  among  them  until  next  spring. 
In  1762  the  Trenton  congregation  made  an  advance 
toward  settling  a  pastor  by  purchasing  a  parsonage.  In 
1 763  a  call  was  made  for  Mr.  Kirkpatrick  to  become  col- 
league with  Rev*  Ebenezer  Prime  of  Huntington,  Long 
Island.  The  call  was  irregular  and  no  action  was  taken. 
These  informalities  were  corrected,  and  the  call  was  re- 
newed in  1764.  The  Trenton  people  became  somewhat 
impatient,  but  Presbytery  replied  that  there  was  no  satis- 


86  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

factory  evidence  that  Mr.  Kirkpatrick  could  be  duly  sup- 
ported, if  settled,  and  that  he  was  under  no  obligation  to 
settle  among  them.  Some  even  claimed  that  if  not  settled, 
he  should  be  dismissed,  which  Presbytery  declined  to  en- 
courage. 

In  the  Synod,  as  well  as  in  Presbytery,  the  minister  of 
Trenton  was  a  punctual  and  active  member.  In  the 
Synod  of  1763  he  was  on  committees  for  education  of 
pious  students  at  Princeton,  and  for  the  direction  and  sup- 
port of  missionaries  on  the  frontiers.  In  1 765  New  Bruns- 
wick and  Metuchen,  White  Clay  Creek  and  Christiana 
Creek,  also  Walkill  applied  to  Presbytery  for  the  services 
of  Mr.  Kirkpatrick  with  a  view  to  settlement.  In  April, 
1766,  there  came  once  more  a  formal  call  from  Trenton 
and  at  the  same  time  one  from  Amwell.  Both  congrega- 
tions made  their  pleas  before  Presbytery.  "Presbytery 
advised  Mr.  Kirkpatrick  to  accept  the  call  from  Amwell" 

The  dilemna  was  not  wholly  relieved  by  this  action.  At 
a  subsequent  meeting  of  Presbytery,  two  members  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  were  present  as  correspondents. 
They  urged  the  reconsideration  of  the  vote  in  April.  Their 
plea  was  that  by  this  action  a  most  important  Church 
would  be  so  discouraged  as  to  be  prevented  from  future  ap- 
plications to  Presbytery.  The  matter  being  thus  opened 
afresh,  the  Presbytery  at  six  0^ clock  of  the  following  morn- 
ing resumed  the  discussion,  and  consented  to  adjourn  to 
the  next  month  at  Trenton,  and  there  re-consider  their  de- 
cision. The  congregations  of  Trenton  and  Amwell  were 
notified  of  the  opportunity  of  being  heard.  On  the  24th 
of  June,  the  parties  were  again  present.  The  Presbytery 
were  unwilling  to  decide.    They  placed  both  calls  into  the 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  87 

hands  of  Mr.  Kirkpatrick,  and  told  him  to  make  his  choice. 
He  decided  for  Amwell.** 

Following  this  decision  Presbytery  made  arrangements 
for  his  installation  at  Amwell.  This  took  place  the  second 
Wednesday  of  August,  1766. 

To  Mr.  Kirkpatrick  it  is  believed,  belongs  the  honor 
of  being  the  first  Stated  Clerk  of  Presbytery,  to  which  he 
was  elected  October  23rd,  1766. 

In  1767  he  was  elected  a  Trustee  of  the  College  of  N. 
J.,  from  which  he  had  graduated  ten  years  previously.    In 
1769,  he  was  both  Treasurer  and  Clerk  of  Presbytery.  He 
was  also  Clerk  of  Synod,  and  in  1769  was  chosen  Moder- 
ator of  Synod  in  Philadelphia,  and  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
bytery *s  committee  to  draft  a  memorial  to  obtain  funds 
for  the  college  at  Princeton.     This  eminently  useful  and 
busy  pastor  had  but  a  short  career.    He  died  in  Amwell  on 
the  8th  of  September,  1769,  not  yet  forty-three  years  of 
age.     His  body  was  buried  in  front  of  the  pulpit  of  the 
''Old    House,"   in   yonder  cemetery  where   our   Church 
stood  for  one  hundred  years.    Over  the  grave  of  this  pas- 
tor is  placed  a  granite  slab,  which,  together  with  the  in- 
scription, is  in  excellent  preservation,  and  is  as  follows: 
"Here  lieth  the  body  of  the 
Rev.   William  Kirkpatrick^ 
Late  Pastor  of  this  Church, 
who  died  in  the  43rd  year  of  his  age.     Reader,  wouldst 
thou  know  his  character  for  good. 

Think  what  a  man,  a  Christian,  a  minister  of  the  Gros- 
pel,  a  Friend,  a  Husband,  a  Father,  a  Master  should  be; 
For  in  imitating  this  pattern  (if  justly  drawn)  thou  shalt 
imitate  him,  and  with  him,  shalt  with  distinguished  honor, 


88  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

attain  to  the  resurrection  of  the  just."  Says  Rev.  J.  P. 
W.  Blattenberger  tradition  represents  Mr.  Kirkpatrick 
as  an  eloquent  man  and  distinguished  for  his  piety.  The 
late  Dr.  John  Hall  of  Trenton,  to  whom  we  are  indebted 
for  the  larger  part  of  what  we  have  said  of  Mr.  Kirk- 
patrick, quotes  in  1857  from  a  venerable  mother  in  Israel, 
aged  ninety-seven,  who,  has  a  distinct  recollection  of  his 
personal  appearance.  She  describes  him  as  being  above 
the  average  size,  but  not  corpulent;  grave,  dignified  and 
commanding  in  his  aspect,  and  of  most  engaging  address. 

We  are  deeply  impressed  by  what  Mr.  Kirkpatrick  ac- 
complished in  the  short  period  of  twelve  years  from  grad- 
uation. He  was  evidently  a  man  of  great  ability,  and 
marvellous  versatility  of  talent.  And  there  still  lingers  a 
charm  about  his  exalted  character,  and  thorough  consecra- 
tion to  the  interests  of  the  Church,  such  as  is  seldom  felt. 
And  now  in  1907,  while  reversing  this  history,  I  wish  to 
add  that  having  studied  the  lives  of  all  the  pastors  of  this 
Church,  as  fully  as  material  allowed.  Rev.  William 
Kirkpatrick  impresses  me  as  the  ablest  man,  all  in  all,  who 
filled  the  pastoral  office  in  this  Church. 

Early  In  Mr.  Kirkpatrlck's  pastorate,  occurred  Novem- 
ber 5th,  1767,  the  death  of  Governor  Reading,  eighty-one 
years  of  age.  An  obituary  of  Governor  Reading  was  pub- 
lished at  the  time  in  the  Pennsylvania  Gazette  to  which 
reference  has  already  been  made,  as  evidently  written  by 
Mr.  Kirkpatrick.  And  the  communion  cups  given  by 
Governor  Reading  date  from  this  pastorate.  The  names 
of  the  following  elders  are  gleaned  from  the  records  of 
Presbytery,  as  representing  the  Church  at  Presbytery  while 
Mr.  Kirkpatrick  was  the  pastor,  viz.,  April  19th,  1768, 


THE  COLONIAL  PERIOD  89 

Abraham  Le  Rue;  May  20th,  1768,  Jacob  Ruder;  Octo- 
ber 1 8th,  1768,  Peter  Wilson;  November  i6th,  1768, 
William  Norcross;  April  i8th,  1769,  Alexander  White. 
In  this  connection,  there  is  another  name  deserving  of 
mention.  It  is  that  of  Joseph  Reed,  who  died  in  Am- 
well,  1774.  In  his  will,  he  mentions  the  children  of  his 
brother,  Andrew,  the  father  of  General  Joseph  Reed,  who 
came  to  Amwell  in  1759  and  died  in  1769.  Joseph  left 
£30  to  Princeton  College  in  addition  to  £20  previously 
given.  He  also  left  £50  to  the  First  and  Second  Amwell 
Churches  each,  and  directed  that  his  body  should  be  In- 
terred in  the  Old  Presbyterian  House  burying  ground. 


PERIOD  II. 

The   Intermediate,  or   Period  of  Conflict  with 
THE  Mother  Country,  17 76- 1820. 


PERIOD  II. 

THE    FOURTH    PASTOR    WAS    REV.    JOHN    WARFORD^ 

I776-I787. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Kirkpatrick,  the  two  Churches 
of  Aniwell  remained  without  a  pastor  for  about  seven 
years,  during  which  time  they  were  served  by  supplies. 
The  Rev.  Samuel  Kennedy,  pastor  at  Basking  Ridge  from 
1 75 1  to  1787  is  most  frequently  mentioned  among  these 
supplies. 

Mr.  Kennedy  was  at  once  a  clergyman,  a  teacher,  and  a 
physician.  Rev.  William  Mackey  Tennent  is  another  of 
these  supplies.  The  minutes  of  the  Presbytery  of  Phila- 
delphia May  17th,  1 77 1,  say  **Mr.  Tennent,  a  candidate 
under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Lewis  Town,  and  who 
is  now  in  these  parts,  is  requested  to  supply  Amwell  as 
many  Sabbaths  as  he  can,  between  this  time  and  the  next 
Presbytery."  Mr.  Tennent  was  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Charles 
Tennent  and  a  grandson  of  the  Rev.  William  Tennent. 
He  died  while  pastor  of  Abington,  Pa.,  in  18 10.  Our  his- 
tory will  have  impressed  you  with  the  fact  that  there  was, 
and  had  been  from  the  beginning  of  the  Church  in  this 
country,  a  great  scarcity  of  ministers  of  the  gospel.  To 
supply  that  need,  and  to  evangelize  the  American  Indians 
were  the  chief  objects  of  Christian  beneficence  at  that 
time,  and  up  to  the  early  part  of  the  present  century. 
While  Mr.  Tennent  was  supplying  Amwell  a  very  lib- 
eral collection  was  taken  at  that  church  in  1772  for  the 
education  of  candidates  for  the  ministry.  The  subject  was 
discussed  at  Presbytery  meeting  at  Kingston  October  8th, 


94  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

1 77 1.  It  was  then  resolved  to  notify  all  the  Churches  of 
this  matter.  Mr.  Tennent  was  directed  to  present  the 
subject  to  the  vacant  Amwell  Church  presumably  both 
Churches.  The  report  to  Presbytery  at  Trenton  April 
14th,  1772,  says  the  subscriptions  amounted  to  £114, 
17s.  6d,  paid  £87,  7s,  6d.  This  was  the  largest  sum  sub- 
scribed except  at  Bedminster,  and  the  largest  paid  by  £25. 

The  fourth  pastor  of  this  Church  was  the  Rev.  John 
Warford.  Mr.  Warford  graduated  at  Princeton  College 
in  1774.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Brunswick  in  1775.  He  received  a  call  to  the  Amwell 
Churches  April  3rd,  1776.  He  was  ordained  and  installed 
at  what  in  the  minutes,  is  called  the  Upper  House,  mean- 
ing Amwell  second,  July  31st,  1776 

At  this  ordination  and  installation  of  Mr.  Warford,  the 
Rev.  Elihu  Spencer,  successor  of  Rev.  William  Kirkpat- 
rick  as  pastor  of  the  Trenton  First  Church,  presided,  and 
preached  the  sermon.  We  must  not  overlook  the  fact  that 
these  interesting  services  held  July  31st,  1776,  occurred 
in  the  same  month  in  which  the  Fathers  of  the  Republic 
signed  and  sent  forth  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

Mr.  Warford  had  graduated  only  two  years  before  the 
Nation's  birthday  at  Princeton  College,  of  which  the 
President,  Rev.  John  Witherspoon,  D.  D.,  was  at  the 
same  time  a  member  of  the  continental  Congress  and  but 
a  few  days  previously,  had  pledged  his  property,  his  life 
and  his  reputation,  in  advocating  and  signing  that  immor- 
tal document.  It  goes  without  saying  that  "patriotism 
was  in  the  air." 

What  specific  utterances  if  any  on  the  state  of  the 
country  were  expressed  either  by  the  Presbytery  or  the 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1 776-1 820      95 

congregation  at  this  time,  have  perished  with  the  lost  rec- 
ords of  the  Church.  But  the  numerous  military  titles 
born  by  members  of  the  Church  and  congregation  during 
the  "Struggle  for  independence,"  and  the  records  else- 
where preserved  of  efficient  service  rendered  to  the  cause 
by  her  members,  abundantly  prove  the  Churches  abound- 
ing patriotism.  Members  of  the  Reading  family,  as  al- 
ready shown,  were  conspicuous  in  the  service  of  their 
country.  Other  names  will  occur  to  the  reader  or  be  pre- 
sented in  order  as  we  proceed.  The  cemetery  bears  its 
witness  to  these  in  many  cases  though  not  always. 

There  were  many,  doubtless,  like  the  Mattisons,  an- 
cestors of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Bonnell,  widow  of  Vice-Chan- 
cellor  Van  Fleet,  who  when  I  chanced  to  ask  her  what  of- 
ficial positions  these  ancestors  of  hers  had  filled,  said,  "Oh, 
they  just  fought  and  bled  for  their  country."  As  we  look 
back  to-day  and  recall  their  devoted  fidelity  under  trials 
hard  to  be  born  we  count  this  honor  enough  surely. 

However  we  are  especially  concerned  with  the  Church 
itself,  and  her  record.  We  can  well  conceive  that  the 
struggle  for  national  freedom,  imposed  burdens  numerous 
and  heavy  to  be  born,  upon  the  Church  in  her  own  sphere 
of  action,  but  without  definite  facts  before  us,  this  concep- 
tion will  come  far  short  of  the  actual  condition.  Bear  in 
mind  that  Mr.  Warford  had  been  installed  the  same 
month  in  which  the  Declaration  of  Independence  had  been 
made.  From  that  time  onward  the  whole  country  was  in- 
tensely occupied  with  national  affairs.  He  was  only  the 
fourth  pastor  installed  over  this  church  and  but  twenty- 
eight  years  from  the  installation  of  the  first  one.  The 
seven  years  immediately  preceding  this  installation — the 


96  AMWELL  first  CHURCH 

Church  had  been  without  sl  pastor,  In  which  condition  a 
church  is  uniformly  losing  more  or  less  of  its  vital  force. 
Two  of  these  former  pastors  had  died  on  the  field,  after  a 
period  of  only  three  years  service  each.  This  undoubtedly 
indicates  great  hardships  and  exposures  connected  with  the 
service.  These  hardships  often  befel  the  membership  as 
truly  as  the  pastor. 

These  difficulties  were  greatly  augmented  by  the  state  of 
the  finances  of  the  colonies,  diminishing  as  this  did  the 
resources  of  the  Church.  Added  to  this,  the  Church  was 
never  fully  finished  and  consequently  although  the  Church 
building  had  been  on  its  foundation  only  thirty-seven 
years,  it  was  already  needing  repairs.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Warford  was  called  on  a  salary  of  £ioo  per  annum  from 
the  two  Amwell  Churches,  £50  to  be  paid  in  semi-annual 
payments. 

The  congregation  had  from  the  first  provided  a  parson- 
age for  their  pastor.  We  learned  this,  as  you  will  recall 
from  the  object  stated  in  ordering  a  lottery  to  be  held  in 
1749.  This  occurred  before  there  was  a  pastor  on  the 
ground. 

Again  in  our  oldest  subscription  paper  that  of  1753, 
there  is  a  vigorous  effort  made  to  supply  this  need.  When 
the  parsonage  was  secured,  there  was  connected  with  it,  a 
piece  of  land  which  they  always  speak  of  as  a  plantation. 
When  the  pastor  Rev.  William  Kirkpatrick  died  in  1769, 
his  widow  Margaret  Kirkpatrick,  with  her  two  children, 
was  allowed  to  remain  in  the  parsonage  free  of  rent,  so 
long  as  not  needed  by  a  successor  to  Mr.  Kirkpatrick.  This 
was  indeed  becoming  and  generous  treatment. 

The  generosity,  however,  received  a  spot  on  the  feast 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1776-1820      97 

of  charity.  At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  congregation 
April  22nd,  1773,  it  was  mentioned  that  leave  had  been 
given  Mrs.  Kirkpatrick  in  April,  1770,  to  occupy  the  par- 
sonage free  of  rent  until  the  congregation  should  settle 
another  minister.  At  the  meeting  now  held,  considering 
their  former  action,  they  think  the  minute  before  made 
was  not  fully  expressive  of  the  true  intent  of  the  vote  then 
taken.  That  intent  was,  that  Mrs.  Kirkpatrick  might 
have  leave  to  occupy  the  parsonage  for  one  year  free  of 
rent,  unless  a  minister  should  be  called,  and  it  is  the  sense 
of  this  meeting  that  Mrs.  Kirkpatrick  ought  to  pay  a  rea- 
sonable rent  to  the  said  congregation  since  April,  1771, 
and  that  Mr.  Mattison  serve  Mrs.  Kirkpatrick  with  this 
minute. 

Mr.  Mattison  reported  that  he  had  agreed  with  Mrs. 
Kirkpatrick,  "that  as  she  has  put  up  two  hundred  rails 
within  two  years,  if  she  buys  and  puts  up  five  hundred 
more  rails  this  year,  it  shall  be  in  full  for  the  rent  of  two 
years  last  past."  Also  agreed  by  Mrs.  Kirkpatrick  to  give 
ten  pounds  paper  money  for  ye  year,  and  to  have  ye  privi- 
lege of  sowing  ye  field  over  ye  brook  with  winter  grain. 
But  amid  the  present  stringency  and  impending  hardships 
there  occurred  a  charming  piece  of  romance  connected 
with  Mr.  Warford  and  the  inmates  of  the  parsonage. 

When  Rev.  John  Warford  came  to  Amwell  fresh  from 
his  studies  at  Princeton,  unlike  most  young  clergymen  of 
more  recent  times,  he  seems  to  have  been  free  from  all  en- 
tangling alliances.  Once  on  the  field,  he  took  in  the  situ- 
ation. It  was  not  in  his  heart  to  displace  Mrs.  Kirkpatrick 
and  her  children,  by  bringing  a  wife  to  the  parsonage.  He 

did  the  vastly  better  thing.     He  went  to  the  parsonage 
7 


98  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

for  a  wife.  So  in  due  time,  he  and  Margaret,  the  widow 
of  the  Rev.  William  Kirkpatrick  were  united  in  holy  wed- 
lock. I  am  sure  a  new  joy  came  into  that  parsonage  from 
that  union,  the  exact  date  of  which  I  have  not  been  able 
to  discover. 

We  may  be  equally  sure,  that  notwithstanding  the 
stringency  of  the  times,  and  the  impending  hardships  and 
privations  awaiting  the  pastor,  he  found  unfailing  help 
and  encouragement  in  this  wife  whose  wise  management 
and  resourcefulness,  have  already  been  manifest.  And  for 
the  impending  hardships,  they  had  not  long  to  wait. 

As  previously  stated  the  minute  book  of  the  trustee  and 
congregation  is  no  longer  in  existence,  but  from  1779  we 
have  some  unengrossed  minutes  of  congregational  action, 
also  several  lists  of  pewholders  and  other  subscription  pa- 
pers. In  such  a  minute  dated  Jan.  21st,  1779,  we  have 
the  record  of  the  following  action :  "Whereas  the  Prices  of 
Country  produce  are  much  risen  to  what  they  were  when 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Warford  settled  in  Amwell,  when  his  con- 
gregations agreed  to  pay  him  a  salary  of  one  hundred 
pounds  per  annum,  to  which  we  respectively  subscribed 
or  engaged  to  pay.  We  who  had  subscribed  or  taken  seats 
in  order  to  pay  the  salary,  now  engage  to  make  up  our  re- 
spective engagements  in  produce,  at  the  price  they  respec- 
tively bore  when  we  made  such  engagements.  Or  to  pay 
as  much  money  as  will  purchase  such,  or  so  much  produce. 
And  this  to  commence  from  October  last  past.  Witness 
our  hands  the  21st  January,  1779. 

Jasper  Smith. 

The  prices  prevailing  in  i776iare  then  annexed — Wheat 
7/,  which  means  7  shillings;  Rye  3/9,  is  three  shillings 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1 776-1 820      99 

nine  pence;  Oats  at  2/,  Corn  3/6,  Buckwheat  2/,  Hay  6/ 
per  ton,  best  sort.  Of  course  this  was  the  coinage  of  the 
Mother  country.  It  will  be  of  interest  to  see  the  names 
of  the  persons  making  this  agreement.  They  are  as  fol- 
lows: 

Arthur  Gray,  Samuel  Carman,  David  Jones,  Samuel 
Furman,  David  Bishop,  Garret  Schenck,  Abm.  Devemer, 
James  Stout,  Captain  Peter  Phillips,  Cornelius  Stout 
Major,  Samuel  Hill,  John  Phillips,  Thomas  Reading  Ma- 
jor, David  Bartron,  Charles  Reading  Captain,  John  Read- 
ing Captain,  son  of  David;  Wm.  Abbit,  Tunis  Quick, 
Wm.  Schenck,  Abrm.  Williamson,  Peter  Prall,  Thomas 
Lowney,  Isaac  Hill,  James  Stout,  Jacob  Mattison,  Jas. 
Hankinson,  Jr.,  John  Hankinson,  Thomas  Wilson,  Jona- 
than Pidcock,  Jacob  Bowman,  Walter  Wilson,  Thomas 
Burrows,  Abraham  Hagaman,  Thomas  Hankinson,  Dan- 
iel Wilson  and  surely  Jasper  Smith  who  drew  up  the  pa- 
per to  which  he  signs  his  name  as  here  given,  considered 
himself  a  signer  to  its  obligation.  From  this  date  down  to 
the  forming  of  the  Church  at  Flemington,  he  was  the  most 
active  man  in  the  Church.  A  sketch  of  his  life  is  given 
by  Dr.  Mott  in  his  history  of  the  Church  at  Flemington. 
It  may  only  be  stated  here  that  he  was  a  lawyer  and  to 
his  care  as  a  lawyer,  we  owe  the  preservation  of  these 
subscription  papers  to  which  we  are  indebted  for  the  valu- 
able information  they  furnish  of  this  interesting  period  of 
the  Church's  history.  On  the  same  day  January  21st, 
1779,  on  which  the  above  action  was  taken,  we  find  an- 
other paper  was  circulated  on  which  generous  subscrip- 
tions were  made.  Although  the  purpose  of  this  act  was 
not  then  accomplished,  we  quote  a  few  of  its  statements. 


100  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

The  paper  opens  as  follows:  Whereas  a  good  parsonage  is 
of  great  consequence  towards  supporting  the  Gospel  and 
the  place  in  Amwell  wherein  the  Rev.  Mr.  Warford  lives, 
being  small,  and  but  little  wood  on  it,  and  not  capable  of 
much  improvement,  it  is  judged  best  by  many  to  sell  it, 
and  purchase  a  plantation  if  to  be  had,  that  may  be  suitable 
and- convenient.  The  persons  named  to  receive  the  money 
and  make  the  purchase  were — David  Chambers,  Nathan- 
iel Hunt,  Jonathan  Pidcock,  David  Jones,  Tunis  Quick, 
Jr.,  David  Bishop,  Cornelius  Stout  and  Jasper  Smith. 

From  the  first  subscription  paper  after  this  meeting  of 
January  21st,  1779,  we  learn  that  that  meeting  was  a  joint 
one  of  the  two  Amwell  Churches,  as  undoubtedly  the 
above  names  represent  both  Churches.  Although  the  sub- 
scriptions as  far  as  made  were  most  generous,  there  were 
only  eight  subscribing,  and  this  movement  to  sell  the  old 
parsonage  was  abandoned,  but  not  the  main  movement  to 
secure  better  accommodations  for  the  pastor. 

We  are  especially  interested  in  this  paper,  because  it  as- 
serts that  Mr.  Warford  was  living  in  the  parsonage  Janu- 
ary 2ist,  1779.  This  gives  us  a  strong  probability  that  the 
marriage  between  Mr.  Warford  and  Mrs.  Kirkpatrick 
had  taken  place  previous  to  that  date. 

May  loth,  1779,  another  subscription  paper  was  circu- 
lated in  the  interests  of  the  parsonage.  I  shall  venture  to 
quote  this  paper  also  in  part,  because  it  seems  to  me  that 
the  tenacity  with  which  the  members  of  old  Amwell  ad- 
hered to  their  purpose,  is  truly  refreshing.  This  paper 
reads — ''Whereas  the  parsonage  in  possession  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Warford  in  Amwell  is  small,  the  committee  of  the 
two  congregations     *     *     *     have  hired  a  plantation  ad- 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD-^i 776-1 820     loi 

joining  the  parsonage  to  be  used  with  it,  in  order  the  bet- 
ter to  support  the  minister.  They  agree  to  pay  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  pounds  rent  for  the  year,  a  part  of  which 
plantation  is  since  rented  out  (so  as  to  ease  the  congrega- 
tion) at  fifty  pounds,  leaving  fifty  pounds  a  year  for  each 
congregation  to  raise  by  subscription.  And  as  these  con- 
gregations have  heretofore  been  noted  for  their  zeal  in 
supporting  the  Gospel,  and  the  hiring  of  this  place,  being 
absolutely  necessary  for  that  purpose,  the  Committee  have 
the  highest  confidence  of  the  approbation  of  the  congrega- 
tions in  their  proceedings.  *  *  *  And  any  overplus 
money,  is  to  be  laid  out  in  repairing  the  parsonage  or  the 
Meeting  Houses  as  the  committee  may  think  best.  The 
persons  appointed  to  receive  the  subscriptions,  were  Jas- 
per Smith,  Cornelius  Stout,  Tunis  Quick  and  David 
Bishop.  There  were  two  of  these  papers  circulated  (in 
Amwell  First  as  it  appears).  There  were  twenty-one  sub- 
scribers on  this  paper,  and  the  amount  subscribed  was  six- 
ty-three pounds  two  shillings  and  six  pence.  I  shall  not 
give  the  names,  because  they  all  and  many  others  appear 
on  the  first  paper  next  circulated,  for  the  salary.  That  is, 
the  First  Church  secured  on  their  subscription  circulated 
for  the  first  time  to  raise  funds  for  renting  a  plantation, 
thirteen  pounds,  two  shillings  and  six  pence  more  then  the 
£50  required  for  the  purpose.  We  must  now  go  back  a 
inonth  and  give  an  account  of  the  new  methods  of  paying 
the  salary,  each  Church  paid  £50  per  annum  in  two  equal 
payments,  April  and  October.  April  23rd,  1779,  atten- 
tion was  called  to  the  fact  that  the  salary  was  due  for  six 
months  past  and  collectors  sent  out. 

On  this  first  paper  there  are  sixty-two  subscribers,  with 


I02 


AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 


the  amounts  each  had  been  accustomed  to  pay  in  the  cur- 
rency of  the  Mother  Country,  but  which  they  had  agreed 
to  pay  either  in  that  currency  or  in  produce  at  the  price 
prevailing  before  the  war,  or  in  full  value  in  continental 
currency.  April  23rd,  1779,  the  collectors  were  notified 
that  the  half  year's  salary  settled  on  the  pews  at  the  rate 
of  £50  for  the  year,  was  now  due,  and  they  were  urged  to 
collect  the  same  as  soon  as  possible.  It  is  also  stated  that 
there  had  been  an  addition  made  at  the  rate  of  nine  pence 
in  the  pound,  to  each  subscriber,  to  meet  the  deficiency 
arising  from  a  number  of  vacant  pews.  We  add  the  full 
list  of  these  subscribers  or  pew  holders,  their  amounts  and 
in  what  each  paid,  whether  money  or  produce : 


John  Reading  . .  . 
Joseph  Hankinson 


£ 

s 

d 

0 

10 

4 

0 

10 

4 

David  Bartron  ..     o  14     9 


Received  £9.18.9  in  cash. 
That  is  in  colonial  cur- 
rency.— John  Warford. 
Promised  wheat  after  har- 
vest. 
Thomas    Reading     052     Delivered  2%   bushels  of 

corn    at    Griggs'    mill. 
The  overplus  to  be  on 
next  collection. 
097     Delivered   15   lbs.  of  flax 

to  Mr.  Warford. 
097     Promised  wheat  after  har- 
vest. 
O  14     5     Not  legible. 


Isaac   Hill 

John   Reading. .  . 
Jasper    Smith.  ... 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1 776-1 820     103 


Richard    Phillips,     o     8  10 


Rulif  Schenck ...     o     8     o 


Samuel    Hill....     o     8  10     Delivered    13^   bushels  of 

wheat  at  James  Stouts' 
mill  for  Mr.  Warford. 

Received  4  5  dollars 
towards  this  and  next 
half  year's  salary. — 
John  Warford. 

Promised   i   bushel  and  4 
quarts  wheat  after  har- 
vest. 
C.  Reading,  Capt.     o  10     4     To  deliver  i^  bushels  of 

wheat   at  Jno.   Griggs' 
mill. 

To  work  to  this  amount 
at  the  old  price. 

Received  53  dollars  in 
cash. — John  Warford. 

Delivered  4  bushels  of 
oats  to  Mr.  Warford. 


Henry  Bailie. .  .. 
Thomas  Lowrey. 
Mary  Carman . . 
Cornelius  Stout.. 


052 
I  o  8 
o  8  10 
o    8  10 


Promised  to  deliver  i}'i 
bushels  of  wheat  at  Jno. 
Stout's  mill. 


Thomas  Stout.  . 
Hannah  Clark.  . 
James  Clark .  . .  . 
James  Stout .  . .  . 
Samuel    Furman . 

James  Stout,  Jr.. 
Jos.  Moorehead. . 


045 
045 
045 
096 
096 

096 
079 


Promised  wheat. 
Delivered      i  ^      bushels 

wheat  at  Stout's  mill. 
Promised  wheat. 


104 


AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 


Arthur    Gray....     on     3 


Joseph    Mattison.     058 


Moses   Estey,  Jr.     o     5     8 


John    Henry....     Q  11      3 
Joachim    Griggs,     o  10     5 


Samuel    Griggs.  .     o  10     4 


James    Furman 
Isaac    Gray.  .  . 


o 


o  14     3 


Jacob    Mattison..     096 


Rich.    Hankinson.     o     3   n 
John   Haviland  ..079 


Promised  to  deliver  i^ 
bushels  of  wheat  or  a 
little  more  at  Griggs' 
mill. 

Received  of  Jos.  Mattison 
£5.8  in  cash,  and  id, 
Mr.  Warford  the  same 
July. 

27  dollars  7d  for  this  and 
next  half  year's  salary, 
and  Estey  moved  away. 

Promised  wheat. 

To  deliver  i^^  bushels  of 
wheat  at  James  Stout's 
mill. 

To  deliver  2  bushels  rye  at 
James  Stout's  mill,  to 
be  7-6,  2-10  to  be  paid 
next  collection. 

Delivered  to  Mr.  War- 
ford  3  bushels  of  oats. 

Promised  to  deliver  at 
Griggs'  mill  2  bushels 
of  wheat. 

Delivered  to  Mr.  War- 
ford  I  bushel  of  vsrheat 
and  one  of  rye. 

Paid  Mr.  Warword  £3. 
15  in  cash. 

Promised  a  pair  of  shoes. 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1 776-1 820     105 

The  following  names  belong  to  members  South  of  the 
Neshanic,  as  those  already  given  are  on  the  north  side 
or  in  the  Flemington  district.  This  distinction  runs 
through  the  subscription  papers  although  there  may  br 
individual  exceptions.  The  old  subscriptions  are  here  giv- 
en, but  how  they  paid  is  not  stated : 

£     s     d 

Lewis  Chamberlin   o     8     O 

John  Schenck,  Capt o     8     O 

Stout  Sutphin    O     4     O 

George  Hyde    o  11     o 

David  Bishop    o     9     7 

William  Schenck   o     9     7 

Cobus  Johnson's  widow O     9     7 

Sarah  Williamson    *....     o     410 

John   Sutphin    O     8     O 

George  Prall    o     8     o 

John  Williamson    O     4     O 

Tunis  Quick o  11     o 

Abraham  Prall   o  11     3 

John   Prall    o     5     8 

Benjamin   Prall    o     5     8 

Jared    Sexton    O     5     8 

Douck  Sutphen o     5     8 

Peter  Prall    o  10     5 

Abraham  Williamson    O  lO     5 

Jacob  Sutphin  o     8     8 

Derick    Sutphen    O     5     8 

Guisbert  Gulick   o     8     8 

Garret  Schenck o     7     9 

Isaac  Prall  ,,,,.,..,,.,,..,...,.,,.,,.,,     o     8     3 


io6  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Jacob  Kershaw   o     3   11 

Benjamin  Johnson  o  10     5 

The  subscription  paper  for  the  next  half  year  for  the 
Flemington  district  has  not  been  found.  Only  a  few 
items  need  be  given  for  the  same  period  from  the  paper 
circulated  in  the  district  south  of  the  Neshanic.  The  sub- 
scribers and  their  amounts  remain  the  same  as  before  given 
excepting  that  for  Guisbert  Gulick,  we  have  his  estate. 
And  in  the  payment  by  Isaac  Prall,  whose  subscription 
was  8  shilling,  8  pence,  we  have  the  Cr.  received  £17.7.6, 
rate  2  J/4  bushels  of  wheat  at  20  dollars  continental. 

In  the  collection  for  October  23rd,  1779,  to  April 
1780,  in  the  Flemington  district,  we  see  evidence  of  the 
burden  of  the  church  from  the  greater  depreciation  of  the 
currency.  In  this  paper  we  have  collections  for  salary  in 
arrears,  and  also  the  current  dues  together  with  an  in- 
crease of  two  shillings  to  the  pound,  assessed  on  those  who 
hold  pews,  to  make  up  for  the  increased  number  of  vacant 
pews.  Our  list  of  subscribers  remains  substantially  the 
same,  as  it  was  a  year  before.  We  only  select  a  few  of  the 
name,  in  order  to  bring  out  more  clearly  the  state  of 
things  existing.  John  Reading  1 1  shillings,  and  arrearage 
for  a  year  preceding  £1.0.8.  Received  in  cash  380  dol- 
lars in  full. 

Joseph  Hankinson  1 1  shillings,  and  arrearage  for  six 
months,  10  shillings,  4  pence.  Received  in  cash  256  dol- 
lars in  full.  That  is,  in  the  colonial  currency  they  paid 
twelve  (12)  dollars  to  the  shilling  of  hard  money  as  they 
termed  the  English  coinage.  Thomas  Reading  5/6,  re- 
ceived sixty-six  dollars  in  full.    Jasper  Smith  10-2,  deliv- 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1 776-1 820     107 

ered  Mr.  Warford  two  quires  of  paper  at  three  shillings 
per  quire  and  eighty-six  dollars  cash  in  full. 

Isaac  Hill  9/4,  received  flax  on  last  collection  overpay 
to  8/7,  9  pence  nov^r  due.  Richard  Phillips  9/4,  received  7 
lbs.  of  flax  badly  cleaned,  and  5^  lbs.  well  cleaned. 

Thomas  Lowrey,  subscription  £1.2,  received  in  specie 
£1.2.6. 

Joseph  Moorhead  8-3,  arrearages  for  a  year  preceding 
15-6,  received  weaving  34  2-3  ells  at  eight  pence  per  ell, 
£1.3.2.  John  Haviland  8-3  credit,  1-9  before  paid,  and 
a  pair  of  shoes  8  shillings.  Dr.  Jacob  Kirkpatrick  in  his 
reminiscences  of  fifty  years,  being  at  one  time  pastor  of  this 
Church,  tells  also  of  a  pair  of  shoes  extra  finish,  for  Mrs. 
Warford,  but  that  record  is  no  longer  to  be  found.  In 
the  subscription  paper  for  salary  for  April  to  October, 
1780,  only  the  following  need  be  mentioned,  Joseph  Han- 
kinson,  salary  11  shillings,  paid  by  giving  132  dollars; 
Jasper  Smith  salary  is  10-2,  pays  by  sending  Mr.  War- 
ford 15  lbs.  of  veal  at  23^2  pence  per  lb.,  making  3  shillings 
i^  pence  and  80  dollars  in  continental  currency.  Sam- 
uel Hills'  salary  9-4,  Mr.  Warford  receipts  for  pasturing 
two  heifers. 

On  the  salary  list  from  October,  1781,  to  April,  1782, 
we  have  a  new  subscriber,  William  Searles,  4-2.  In  the 
list  from  October,  1782,  to  April,  1783,  we  have  in  place 
of  John  Henry,  John  Henry's  estate  £1.11.3,  showing  the 
death  of  Mr.  Henry,  and  as  was  the  case  with  many  sub 
scribers,  that  his  previous  salary  had  not  been  paid.  Also 
the  collector  chosen  for  this  period  was  Isaac  Hill,  who 
was  charged  to  collect  in  hard  money  only.  In  the  direc- 
tion on  the  previous  list  the  collector,  Thomas  Reading, 


io8  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

was  informed  that  Mr.  Warford  was  in  great  want  of 
money.  In  the  list  from  October,  1783,  to  April,  1784, 
Joseph  Mattison  is  credited  with  15  shillings  for  a  wheel- 
barrow, as  part  payment  of  his  salary  of  which  there  was 
the  sum  of  £2.14.8  in  arrears. 

Also  in  this  paper  the  statement  that  James  Furman  had 
moved  to  Reading  Town,  and  that  William  Searles  had 
moved  to  Lebanon  (twp.).  In  the  list  for  October,  1784, 
to  April,  1785,  in  addition  to  the  usual  heading,  we  have 
the  statement  that  at  a  meeting  of  the  congregation  held 
April  29th,  1782,  it  was  ordered  that  to  make  up  the  de- 
ficiency arising  from  the  vacant  seats,  and  all  deficiency 
since  October,  1778,  the  Church  should  levy  a  sufficient 
amount  on  the  seats  occupied  which  would  occasion  an  ad- 
dition of  6-8  in  the  pound. 

This  heavy  increase  showed  again  the  earnest  purpose 
of  the  church  members  to  sustain  the  Church.  It  is  the 
more  noteworthy,  because  the  action  was  taken  in  the 
face  of  many,  and  large  amounts  in  arrears.  This,  too, 
among  leading  families.  Such  members  as  the  Readings, 
Griggs,  Hills,  Stouts  and  even  Thomas  Lowrey  who 
paid  the  largest  salary  at  this  period,  and  always  in  specie, 
are  at  times  in  arrears. 

This  arrearage,  in  some  cases,  was  as  high  as  four  and 
five  pounds,  but  it  was  eventually  paid.*  But  we  can  well 
understand  that  in  doing  so  there  were  cases  in  which  the 
burden  seemed  very  heavy,  because  of  the  depreciated  con- 


*Of  several  of  these  in  arrears,  it  should  be  said  the 
heads  of  families  had  been  many  years  in  the  army. 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1 776-1 820    109 

dition  of  the  currency.  We  may  be  pardoned  for  illus- 
trating this  state  of  the  currency  by  an  example  from  civic 
affairs. 

Snell's  History  of  Hunterdon  Co.,  informs  us  that  Am- 
wcU  township  before  the  war  paid  £100  for  keeping  the 
poor,  and  at  a  later  period  so  great  was  the  depreciation 
that  it  required  £6000  to  pay  for  the  same  service. 

In  the  illustrations  we  have  given,  our  statements  have 
been  taken  from  old  manuscripts,  with  subscribers  names, 
amounts  and  how  and  in  what  it  was  paid,  just  as  re- 
corded. 

Besides  articles  mentioned,  we  find  almost  every  pro- 
duct of  the  farm  used  to  pay  the  pastor's  salary,  such  as 
hay,  buckwheat,  oats  and  apples. 

At  length  the  congregation  grew  weary  of  this  method 
of  paying  the  pastor's  salary,  and  doubtless  he  did  too. 

It  was  more  satisfactory  to  both  to  do  it,  even  with  the 
depreciated  currency  of  the  colony,  when  it  could  not  be 
done  in  the  specie  of  the  Mother  country. 

Amid  these  struggles  for  existence,  it  was  very  grateful 
to  the  Churches  of  Amwell,  to  be  aided,  as  they  were  by 
a  legacy,  even  though  the  amount  received  was  not  large. 
This  legacy  was  bequeathed  to  the  Amwell  Churches  in 
1774.  The  record  reads  Samuel  Turken,  Esq.,  Executor 
of  Joseph  Reed,  deceased,  late  of  Amwell,  Dr.  to  the 
Churches  of  Amwell. 

To  a  legacy  bequeathed  said  Churches  by  Jo- 
seph Reed,  and  kept  in  the  hands  of  S. 
Turken    £50.00.0 


no  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Interest  on  the  same  from  July,  1775,  being 
one  year  after  the  death  of  the  testator  to 
July,   1 790   52.  lO.O 


£102.10.0 
Deduct  four  years'  interest,  from  July,  1777, 
to  July,  1 78 1,  on  account  of  the  war,  and 
depreciated  state  of  the  money 1 4.00.0 


£88.10.0 
Credits: — Received    interest   by   Rev.    Mr. 
Warford,  minister  of  the  Churches: 

In  favor  of  the  First  Church.  . .  .    £10.16.7 
In  favor  of  the  Second  Church.  .       10. 16.7 

21. 13.2 


Bal.  due   £66.16.10 

At  a  meeting  of  the  members  of  the  corporation  of  the 
first  English  Presbyterian  Church  in  Amwell,  it  was 
agreed  that  if  the  above  amount  as  stated,  should  be  paid 
without  difficulty,  they  would  agree  to  remit  four's  in- 
terest for  the  reason  as  above,  by  order. 

Jasper  Smith,  President 
of  the  Corporation  of  First  Church. 

I  shall  copy  another  of  these  papers,  because  I  believe 
it  will  be  of  real  interest  to  the  members  and  descendants 
of  the  Church.  You  will  recall  the  fact  that  the  old 
Church,  used  by  the  congregation  as  the  place  of  worship 
at  the  time  of  which  we  are  writing,  stood  in  the  cemetery 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1 776-1 820    111 

where  sleep  the  dead  of  many  generations.  It  was  on  the 
north  side  of  the  old  York  road,  and  unlike  modern  custom 
was  placed  lengthwise  to  the  road.  The  entrance  was  in 
the  side  facing  the  road,  and  the  pulpit  in  the  centre  on  the 
north  side.  There  was  a  large  space  in  the  centre  aisle  to 
which  was  carried  a  large  caldron  filled  with  live  coals. 
These  were  obtained  from  burning  logs  outside  the 
Church.  This  was  the  only  means  of  heating  the  Church 
in  the  early  days  of  its  history.  There  was  neither  fire- 
place nor  chimney.  The  fumes  rising  from  these  hot 
coals  often  caused  persons  sitting  in  the  gallery  to  faint. 
These  facts  I  have  from  Peter  Young  in  the  ninetieth 
year  of  his  age,  whom  I  visited  at  the  suggestion  of  Miss 
Kuhl  of  Brazil.  She  is  a  descendant  of  the  Church.  Mr. 
Young  had  lived  when  a  boy,  with  his  maternal  grand- 
father, Peter  Gano,  near  Greenville,  as  Reaville  was  then 
called.  This  description  will  make  intelligible  the  paper 
referred  to.  This  paper  contains  a  list  of  the  pews,  and 
the  persons  occupying  them  at  the  time,  the  paper  being 
dated  1785.  Remembering  the  location  of  the  pulpit, 
and  the  open  central  space,  we  can  see  these  ancestor,  as 
they  were  seated  for  worship. 

On  the  east  of  the  pulpit  north  side  of  the  Church : 

No.  I — John  Reading  2,  Lesla  Bartran  i,  Thomas 
Reading  Esq.  2. 

No.  2 — Jasper  Smith  Esq.  2,  John  R.  Reading  i,  Dan- 
iel Reading  i. 

No.  3 — Samuel  Hill  2,  Isaac  Hill  2,  Richard  Hill  i, 
Henry  Kennady  2. 

No.  4 — Lewis  Chamberlin  2,  John  Schenck  2,  RuloflE 
Schenck  2. 


112  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

No.  5— 

West  of  pulpit,  north  side: 

No.  I — Captain  Charles  Reading  2,  Henry  Chapers  2, 
Titus  Quick  i. 

No.  2 — William  Schenck  3,  Dr.  Gersham  Craven  i, 
John  Runyan  i. 

No.  3 — Mary  Carmen  2,  Cornelius  Stout  2,  Widow 
of  John  Stout,  Jr.,  i. 

No.  4 — Jacob  Williamson  2,  Amos  Haseland  2. 

No.  5— 

Southwest : 

No.  I — Abram  Prall  2,  Derick  Sutphin  i,  James  An- 
derson I. 

No.  2 — Peter  Prall  2,  Abrm.  Williamson  2,  Tunis 
Quick  2. 

No.  3 — Samuel  Furman  2,  Widow  Stout  i.  Garret 
Schenck  2. 

No.  4 — Jacob  Sutphin  2,  RulofE  Sutphin  i,  Samuel 
Williamson  2. 

No.  5- 

Southeast : 

No.  I — Arthur  Gray  2,  John  Findly  i,  George  Clark  i. 

No.  2 — Joachim  Griggs  2,  Samuel  Griggs  2,  Peter 
Clover  2. 

No.  3 — Jacob  Mattison  2,  David  Bishop  2,  Isaac  Prall 
2. 

No.  4 — John  Williamson  i,  Zenos  Lanning  2. 

No.  5 — John  Hankinson  i,  Edward  Cooper  i. 

Following  close  upon  these  repeated  struggles  for  main- 
taining the  Church,  there  came  to  the  parsonage  and  to 
congregation  also,  a  day  of  great  sadness. 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1776-1820    113 

August  7th,  1786,  Hannah,  daughter  of  Rev.  William 
and  Margaret  Kirkpatrick  died  in  the  nineteenth  year  of 
her  age.  She  is  described  as  a  charming  young  woman, 
being  possessed  of  great  natural  ability,  personal  beauty 
and  most  winning  manners.  Her  funeral  was  attended  by 
almost  as  large  a  number  of  people  as  gathered  at  the  bur- 
ial of  her  distinguished  father.  Her  grave  is  covered  with 
a  horizontal  slab,  similar  to  that  over  her  father's  grave, 
and  the  inscription  narrating  her  life  and  character,  occu- 
pies, as  does  that  of  her  father,  a  large  part  of  this  me- 
morial slab,  and  bears  evidence  of  having  been  written  by 
the  same  person,  who  wrote  that  to  his  memory.* 

These  graves  deserve  from  this  Church  sacred  regard, 
and  should  ever  be  cared  for  with  the  same  affectionate  in- 
terest that  children  would  give  to  the  grave  of  a  parent. 
And  I  wish  to  add  the  same  care  is  due  to  those  of  Rev. 
and  Mrs.  Byram,  Mrs.  Grant,  Mrs.  Hull,  and  that  of 
the  benefactor  of  the  Church,  Mr.  Joseph  Reed.  And 
although  the  resting  place  of  Gov.  Reading  has  been 
looked  after  by  descendants,  there  are  other  members  of 
that  distinguished  family,  and  the  same  is  true  of  many 
other  graves  marking  the  resting  place  of  those  who  were 
interested  and  faithful  members  of  this  Church,  who  have 
no  living  kindred  near  at  hand  to  do  this  service.  I  think 
it  would  be  an  honor  to  the  living  to  recognize  the  claim 
and  give  that  care  that  will  keep  in  respectful  condition 
the  graves  of  those  who  preceded  us  in  this  Church,  and 


*For   many   of   these    facts   concerning   Rev.   William 

Kirkpatrick  excepting  the  memorial  slab,  I  am  indebted 

to  Dr.  John  Hall's  "Early  Settlers  near  Trenton." 
8 


114  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

who  gave  liberal  and  faithful  service  to  keep  in  prosperous 
condition  the  Church,  for  those  who  should  follow  them, 
in  the  membership  of  this  Church.  We  have  inherited  it 
from  them.  Let  us  honor  their  memory  by  caring  for 
their  graves. 

Of  the  son,  William  Kirkpatrick,  born  November  7th, 
1769,  we  learn  from  the  catalogue  of  Princeton  College 
that  he  graduated  from  that  college  in  1788.  He  studied 
medicine  afterward  with  the  celebrated  Dr.  Rush,  of 
Philadelphia.  But  he  was  of  so  sensitive  a  nature  as  to  be 
unfitted  for  the  practice  of  his  profession.  It  is  said  that 
he  was  eminently  literary  in  his  tastes  and  pursuits.  He 
was  of  a  joyous  and  pleasant  temperament,  dignified,  easy 
and  graceful  in  manner.  I  am  describing,  you  will  no- 
tice, an  cultured  Amwell  boy  and  young  man  of  the 
olden  time.  It  is  thus  we  have  him  in  the  traditions  pre- 
served by  Dr.  Hall,  of  Trenton.  But  the  time  was  now 
at  hand  for  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Warford  to  leave  Amwell.  A 
call  was  presented  to  Mr.  Warford  by  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Salem,  New  York,  September  27th,  1787,  in 
pursuance  of  which  his  pastoral  relation  to  the  Amwell 
Churches  was  dissolved  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Bruns- 
wick, October  i6th,  1787.  The  Churches  of  Amwell, 
as  the  records  of  the  Presbytery  show,  expressed  great 
unwillingness  to  part  with  their  pastor.  It  was  only  be- 
cause the  people  of  Amwell  were  unable  to  provide  suita- 
bly for  his  support,  that  they  consented  to  his  leaving 
them. 

Three  unusual  facts  here  present  themselves,  one,  that 
while  accepting  the  call  to  Salem,  Mr.  Warford  did  not 
enter  on  his  labors  there  until  1788,  and  was  not  installed 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1 776-1820    115 

until  July,  1789,  and  this  because  of  another  fact,  viz., 
the  scarcity  of  ministers  of  the  Presbyterian  faith  in  that 
part  of  New  York,  to  perform  the  service 

Because  of  this  state  of  things,  Mr.  Warford  did  not 
leave  Amwell  for  many  months  after  he  ceased  to  be  pas- 
tor. During  this  time,  he  served  the  Amwell  Church  as 
a  supply  for  twelve  Sabbaths. 

As  the  time  approached  for  Mr.  Warford  to  leave  Am- 
well, Jasper  Smith  called  the  officers  of  the  Church  to- 
gether and  made  arrangement  for  final  settlement  with 
the  retiring  pastor. 

It  will  be  seen  from  this  settlement  with  Mr.  Warford 
that  for  the  first  two  years  of  his  pastorate  he  had  been 
paid  in  full,  as  payments  became  due.  This  is  in  accord 
with  the  condition  of  the  Church  and  its  finances,  as  we 
have  surveyed  the  difficulty  of  the  Church  in  meeting  its 
obligations.  The  statement  then  made  for  settlement  by 
Jasper  Smith  is  as  follows: 

Dr. — The  first  English  Presbyterian  Church  in  Am- 
well, to  Rev.  John  Warford. 
To  salary  from  October  23rd,   1778,  to  the 
23  of  October,  1787,  being  nine  years  at 

fifty  pounds  per  year £450.CX).0 

Charged  by  Mr.  Warford  for  supplies  for  Oc- 
tober 23,  1787,  to  October,  1788, — 12 
Sabbaths    24.00.0 

474.00.0 
Cr.  to  payment 408.15.2 

October  14,  bal.  due .£65.4.10 


ii6  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

For  this  settlement  the  whole  amount  paid  for  each 
pew-holder  is  credited,  summing  up  the  total  amount 
paid  as  above. 

October  15th,  1788,  just  before  Mr.  Warford  left  for 
Salem,  a  number  of  the  pew-holders  agreed  to  advance  the 
money  to  pay  Mr.  Warford  in  full.  The  effort  was  only 
partially  successful,  the  sum  subscribed  for  this  purpose 
amounting  £20.13.1,  still  leaving  a  balance  of  £44.11.9. 
Subsequently  other  payments  were  made  until  January 
29th,  1790,  when  Mr.  Warford  gives  his  receipt  to  Jas- 
per Smith  for  £7  15s  lod  in  full. 

Two  facts  appear  in  our  informal  records,  which  have 
to  do  with  the  inability  of  the  Church  to  support  Mr. 
Warford  as  desired, — one  of  these  is,  the  great  decrease  in 
the  number  of  those  who  took  pews  in  the  Church,  the 
other,  the  people  were  in  a  measure  wearied  and  ex- 
hausted under  the  financial  conditions  of  the  country  and 
by  the  condition  of  the  Church  and  the  parsonage.  Sub- 
scriptions were  solicited  for  these  repairs  very  often  dur- 
ing the  pastorate.  The  papers  would  be  headed  with  the 
statement  "Whereas,  the  parsonage  in  which  Mr.  War- 
ford now  resides  is  in  a  wretched  condition,  the  congrega- 
tion is  solicited  to  subscribe  liberally  to  repair  the  same." 
Then  again  it  would  be  ''both  Church  and  parsonage." 
Such  subscriptions  were  taken  in  1779  in  1782,  in  1783, 
in  1784,  an  1786,  and  again  in  1789  after  Mr.  Warford 
had  been  dismissed. 

The  location  of  the  Church  was  also  unsatisfactory, 
especially  to  that  part  of  the  congregation  about  Flem- 
ington.  While  various  remedies  were  attempted  for  the 
relief  of  the  difficulty,  no  one  of  them  proved  satisfactory 
enough  to  secure  its  adoption. 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1 776-1 820     117 

At  length  Mr.  Warford  took  his  departure  to  his  new 
field  of  labor,  and  William,  son  of  Rev.  Wm.  Kirk- 
patrick,  evidently  accompanied  the  family  thither.  How 
he  was  occupied,  for  a  number  of  year,  we  do  not  know, 
but  in  1806,  he  was  appointed  superintendent  of  the  Salt 
Springs,  and  moved  to  Salina,  now  the  first  ward  of  Syra- 
cuse. 

In  1808  he  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives, this  being  the  last  Congress  under  Jefferson's  ad- 
ministration. So  this  sensitive,  but  scholarly  boy  of  the 
Amwell  parsonage,  at  last  reached  a  place  of  honor  and 
responsibility.     He  died  from  cholera  in  1823. 

Of  Mr.  Warford  himself  a  closing  word  is  also  fitting. 
In  addition  to  what  has  been  said,  he  was  the  first  pastor 
of  the  Church  at  Salem.  His  heart  was  enlisted  in  the 
cause  of  Christian  philanthropy  and  missions.  Quoting 
from  a  letter  furnished  me  in  1898  by  the  late  Edward  P. 
Sprague,  Ph.D.,  D.  D.,  at  that  time  pastor  of  the  Church 
at  Salem,  he  says  from  investigations  he  had  made,  it 
was  believed  he  was  born  at  Martha's  vineyard  in  1745. 
His  graduation  from  Princeton  in  1774,  licensure  by 
Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  October  loth,  1775,  and 
ordination  and  installation  at  Amwell  July  31st,  1776, 
have  already  been  given.  Dr.  Sprague  continues  "He 
died  May  19th,  1802,  in  the  fifty-seventh  year  of  his  age. 
Of  his  pastorate  here,  there  remains  little  formal  record, 
but  it  seems  to  have  been  everyway  successful.  He  ap- 
pears to  have  been  a  man  of  earnest  devotion,  scholarly 
and  able.  He  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  foundation  here 
of  Washington  Academy  (which  still  continues)  and  he 
was  one  of  its  first  Board  of  Trustees.     Perhaps  no  more 


ii8  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

correct  estimate  can  be  given  him  than  the  inscription  on 
his  tombstone  here.  He  was  an  affectionate  pastor,  hus- 
band, parent  and  friend.  An  evangelical  preacher,  meek 
in  his  disposition,  and  grave  in  his  address."  Of  Mrs. 
Warford  we  regret  that  all  records  have  perished.  We 
feel  sure,  however,  that  she  has  an  imperishable  record  on 
high. 

Appendix  No.  i. 

As  a  fitting  appendix  to  this  history  of  the  Church  dur- 
ing the  Revolution,  we  insert  here  a  description  of  what  is 
called  A  Roll  for  Swearing  the  Trustees.  This  roll  is 
on  a  parchment  seven  inches  wide  and  two  feet  long,  and 
is  to-day  in  excellent  condition. 

The  contents  of  the  Roll  are  as  follows:  A  Roll  for 
Swearing  the  Trustees  of  the  First  English  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  Township  of  Am  well,  in  the  County  of 
Hunterdon  and  State  of  New  Jersey,  being  chosen  pur- 
suant to  a  Law  of  the  said  State,  made  and  passed  the 
sixteenth  day  of  March,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-six. 

I  do  sincerely  profess  and  swear  that  I  do  not 

hold  myself  bound  to  bear  allegiance  to  the  King  of  Great 
Britain,  So  help  me  God. 

I  do  sincerely  profess  and  swear  that  I  do,  and 

will  bear  true  faith  and  allegiance  to  the  Government  es- 
tablished in  this  State  under  the  authority  of  the  people. 
So  help  me  God. 

Jasper  Smith,  Derrick  Sutphin,  Abrm.  Williamson, 
Lewis  Chamberlin,  Thos.  Reading,  Arthur  Gray,  Tunis 
Quick. 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1776-1820     119 

Sworn  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  December,  Anno  Domini 
1786,  before  me,  Jos.  Reading,  one  of  ye  Justices  of 
ye  peace  for  ye  county  of  Hunterdon. 
State  of  New  Jersey,  Hunterdon  County,  ss. : 

Be  it  remembered  that  on  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  De- 
cember in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hun- 
dred and  eighty-six  personally  came  and  appeared  before 
me  Joseph  Reading,  Esq.,  one  of  the  Justices  assigned 
to  keep  the  peace  in  and  for  the  county  afds.  Jasper 
Smith  and  Thomas  Reading,  Esquires,  Messrs.  Arthur 
Gray,  Tunis  Quick,  Sen.,  son  of  Tunis,  Derrick  Sutphin, 
Abraham  Williamson  and  Lewis  Chamberlin,  having 
been  chosen  Trustees  of  and  for  the  first  English  Presby- 
terian Church  in  the  Township  of  Amwell  in  the  County 
of  Hunterdon  afds.,  who  being  duly  sworn  on  the  holy 
Evangelists  of  Almighty  God,  do  severally  depose  that 
they  would  execute  the  Trust  reposed  in  them  during 
their  continuance  in  office,  with  fidelity  and  according  to 
the  best  of  their  understanding. 

Here  the  several  names  are  given  as  above. 
Sworn  the  day  and  year  above.    Jos.  Reading. 

Abraham  Prall,  Tunis  Quick,  John  Schenck,  Enos 
Laning,  Derrick  Sutphin,  Amos  Hoagland,  Henry  Kan- 
nedy. 

Sworn  before  me  the  19th  day  of  March,  1792.    Joseph 
Reading. 

Jacob  Schenck,  Titus  Quick,  Ralph  Schenck. 
Sworn  before  me  the  21st  day  of  March,  1803.     David 
Bishop,  Justice  of  Peace. 

Interesting  as  the  above  oath  is,  as  giving  the  state  of 
feeling  at  the  close  of  the  war,  it  becomes  more  interesting 


120  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

to  us  now,  in  view  of  the  contrast,  as  shown  by  the  mu- 
tual good  feeling  and  friendship  between  these  two  na 
tions  giving  us  a  prophecy  of  lasting  peace  and  mutual 
helpfulness.     So  may  it  be.     This  has  illustration  in  the 
Appendix  No.  2. 

Appendix  No.  2 — Captain  Schenck. 

Our  scanty  records  make  absolutely  no  allusion  to  the 
struggle  for  independence,  in  progress  at  this  time,  except 
the  phrase,  ''Whereas,  since  prices  are  much  risen  because 
of  the  war,"  which  occurs  in  the  subscription  papers  of 
1779,  as  already  given,  and  excepting  also,  military  titles, 
born  by  many  active  members  of  the  Church.  But  from 
other  sources  we  have  learned  and  also  made  record  of 
such  service  rendered  by  members  of  this  congregation 
for  the  country's  cause,  particularly  of  members  of  the 
Reading  family.  To  this  list  of  the  patriots  of  the  con- 
gregation it  is  proper,  at  this  stage  of  the  Church's  his- 
tory, that  the  name  of  Captain  John  Schenck  should  be 
added. 

Captain  Schenck  was  born  in  1750  and  died  in  1823. 
His  grave  is  in  our  cemetery  with  the  title  and  dates 
above  given,  and  the  statement  added  that  it  was  he  who 
shot  the  British  officer  Cornet  Geary.  This  took  place 
on  the  14th  of  December,  1776.  It  is  believed  that  Cor- 
net Geary  is  the  only  British  officer  killed  within  the  pres- 
ent limits  of  Hunterdon  Co.  Cornet  Geary  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  1 6th  (the  Queen's  Light  Dragoons)  under 
command  of  Col.  Harcourt. 

Cornet  Geary  was  ordered  to  proceed  from  Penning- 
ton, where  his  Regiment  was  quartered,  to  Flemington  to 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1776-1820     121 

learn,  If  possible,  the  location  of  the  Continental  Army, 
which  under  Washington,  was  marching  through  the 
northern  part  of  New  Jersey,  after  the  evacuating  of 
Fort  Lee.  Falling  In  this,  Geary  and  his  men  destroyed 
a  lot  of  arms  and  ammunition  found  In  the  Old  Lowrey 
Store,  near  the  present  site  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
After  this  they  started  on  their  return.  Captain  Schenck 
had  seen  them  as  they  marched  through  RIngoes  early  In 
the  morning.  Hurriedly  gathering  a  few  citizens  with 
such  arms  as  they  could  find,  Captain  Schenck,  one  of 
Washington's  soldiers  home  on  furlough,  marched  his  lit- 
tle band  toward  Flemlngton  to  a  thick  wood  opposite 
what  Is  now  known  as  Kimball's  crossing.  As  the  enemy 
approached,  Captain  Schenck  ordered  his  men  to  fire. 
Cornet  Geary  formed  his  men  In  the  road,  and  returned 
the  fire.  Captain  Schenck  ordered  his  men  to  fire  again. 
Cornet  Geary  fell  to  the  ground  dead.  His  men  fled. 
The  Americans  burled  the  body  near  where  It  fell.  It 
was  reported  subsequently  that  the  British  soldiers  had  re- 
turned and  carried  off  the  body.  Many  believed  this,  al- 
though through  all  the  years  the  grave  had  been  known 
by  people  of  the  neighborhood.  It  lies  on  the  northern 
line  of  the  farm  now  belonging  to  John  Ent,  and  his  son- 
in-law,  Howard  Sutphin.  Theodore  Bellls,  now  of  Flem- 
ington,  the  best  posted  man  in  this  part  of  Hunterdon  Co. 
In  local  affalrsf  determined  to  settle  the  question  about  the 
remains  of  the  British  officer.  For  this  purpose  on  the 
1 8th  of  May,  1891,  he  conducted  certain  members  of  the 
Hunterdon  Co.  Historical  Society  to  this  grave  and 
opened  It  In  their  presence.  This  resulted  In  finding  a 
human  skeleton,  and  four  silver  buttons  marked  Q.  L.  D. 


122  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

1 6,  or  Queen's  Light  Dragoons.  This  established  the 
fact  that  this  was  the  grave  of  Cornet  Geary.  The  fam- 
ily of  Lieut.  Geary  have  been  informed  of  this  fact.  Re- 
cently a  lady  in  Utica,  acting  for  the  family,  ordered  a 
monument  to  be  placed  at  the  grave.  This  was  recently 
done  by  Reardon  and  son  of  Flemington.  The  monu- 
ment is  of  boulder  design  and  of  rock  taken  from  the 
vicinity  of  the  grave.     The  inscription  is  as  follows: 

In  Memory  of 

Cornet  Francis  Geary 

1 6    (The  Queen's)    Light  Dragoons, 

Born  1752. 

Killed  in  action  here 

in  the  service  of  King  George  III,  December  14,  1776. 

Eldest  son  of  Admiral  Sir  Francis  Geary,  Baronet. 

Erected  in  1907  by  his  great  nephew 

Sir  William  Navil  M.  Geary,  Baronet. 

Now,  the  struggle  long  ago  ended,  we  join  in  tributes 

of  esteem  for  each  other's  noble  sons. 

Captain  Schenck,  belonging  to  a  very  numerous  family 
in  the  early  history  of  our  Church,  has  an  honored  place 
in  our  country's  history,  and  in  the  history  of  our  Church 
as  well.  Our  records  show  him  to  have  been  exceeding- 
ly active  and  liberal  for  the  Church's  welfare  and  the 
Master's  honor. 

THE  FIFTH  PASTOR  WAS  REV.  THOMAS  GRANT, 
I79I-1809. 

Although  the  reason  assigned  by  the  Amwell  Churches 
for  consenting  to  the  removal  of  Mr.  Warford  from  them 
was  their  inability  to  give  him  proper  support,  we  find 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1 776-1 820     123 

these  Churches  very  soon  realized  their  need  of  a  pastor, 
and  that  they  must,  in  some  way  meet  the  demand.  Here 
again  we  discover  the  efficient  leadership  of  Jasper  Smith, 
president  of  the  corporation  of  Amwell  First.  In  April, 
1789,  Mr.  Smith  makes  a  report  to  Presbytery,  saying, 
however,  in  the  introduction  of  the  same,  that  this  duty 
belongs  to  Elder  Mr.  Abraham  Prall.  He  then  adds  "of 
late  years  a  number  have  fallen  off  from  our  Church, 
and  many  others  are  very  cool  about  supporting  the  Gos- 
pel. This  no  doubt  will  greatly  encourage  the  enemy. 
What  then?  Are  we  to  give  up?  No.  I  hope  the  Rev- 
erend Presbytery  will  supply  us  more  cheerfully  with  their 
ablest  preachers,  that  in  the  use  of  powerful  means,  we 
may  regain  what  we  have  lost,  and  turn  the  zeal  in  favor 
of  the  Church."  Surely  a  Church  is  favored,  that  has 
among  her  members  a  man  so  fully  awake  to  her  interest 
as  Mr.  Smith  shows  himself  to  be;  and  who  lays  empha- 
sis on  the  able  and  faithful  preaching  of  the  Gospel  in  or- 
der to  arouse  men  to  a  sense  of  their  duty.  It  is  not  al- 
ways so.  As  a  result  of  this  request  we  find  that  the  sup- 
plies for  the  vacant  Churches  besides  Mr.  Warford,  while 
still  residing  among  them,  were  Dr.  Witherspoon,  Mr. 
Hannah,  Mr.  Armstrong,  of  Trenton,  Mr.  Clark,  father 
of  Rev.  John  F.  Clark,  subsequently  a  pastor  of  our 
Church  and  others. 

Dr.  John  Witherspoon  supplied  the  Amwell  pulpit  on 
different  occasions,  during  the  time  the  Church  was  with- 
out a  pastor.  June  21st,  1789,  he  preached  and  adminis- 
tered the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  The  Treasur- 
er is  credited  with  paying  him  £3  for  this  service.  Again 
November  ist,  of  the  same  year  he  preached  at  Amwell 


124  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

and  received  £i.ios.  These  were  the  sums  paid  at  this 
period  to  any  preacher  rendering  these  respective  services. 
In  our  day  it  would  be  deemed  a  distinguished  honor  to 
any  Church  to  have  a  man  so  noted  as  Dr.  Witherspoon, 
president  of  Princeton  College,  and  a  signer  of  the  Declar- 
ation of  Independence  fill  its  pulpit.  Notwithstanding 
the  increased  difficulty  of  caring  for  the  Church  without  a 
pastor,  we  find  the  members  of  the  congregation  or  of  the 
corporation  as  they  call  themselves,  show  their  old-time 
determination  to  sustain  the  Church.  The  salary  list 
circulated  for  collecting  salary  for  the  six  months  ending 
October  23rd,  1790,  has  the  following  heading.  Whereas 
the  salary  ordered  to  be  levied  and  raised  every  six 
months  for  paying  supplies  sent  by  Presbytery  for  the 
First  English  Presbyterian  Church  in  Amwell  was  due 
October  23rd,  1790.  They  add  to  be  paid  in  Gold  or 
Silver  money.  You  will  notice  this  improved  condition 
of  currency  is  in  the  second  year  of  Washington's  admin- 
istration. This  paper  is  sent  out  with  substantially  the 
same  names  as  were  on  the  lists  all  through  the  war,  but 
it  is  evident  many  of  the  persons  so  listed,  do  not  pay. 
This  paper  is  arranged  as  former  ones,  by  having  three 
spaces  ruled  in  which  the  subscribers  may  insert  as  they 
choose  pounds,  shillings  and  pence.  In  addition  to  these 
spaces  for  current  expenses,  there  are  adjoining  these, 
three  other  spaces,  ruled  off  for  arrearages.  And  these  ar- 
rearages, generally  much  larger  than  the  half  yearly  salary 
are  almost  uniformly  paid,  even  by  those  who  have  sur- 
rendered their  seats  in  the  Church,  and  are  not  paying  for 
current  expenses.  If  they  decline  to  pay  up  the  arrears 
Jasper  Smith  adds  a  note  to  the  collector's  paper  saying 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1 776-1820     125 

"Mr.  signed  Mr.  Warford's  call  and  he  must  pay" 

so  that  the  money  may  be  refunded  to  those  who  advanced 
it.  As  a  result  of  insisting  on  their  obligation  to  the  cor- 
poration, the  arrearage  collected  on  this  paper  of  1790  is 
£41,7.8,  while  for  the  current  expenses  it  is  only  ,£13. 16.2. 
Under  this  efficient  management  of  the  affairs  of  the 
Church,  and  the  co-operation  of  the  Presbytery,  the  pul- 
pit was  supplied  with  preachers  during  the  time  the 
Church  was  without  a  pastor. 

Among  these  supplies  for  the  pulpit,  we  find  the  name 
of  Mr.  Grant  in  1790,  who  supplied  the  Churches  for 
nine  Sabbaths  previous  to  his  installation  April  ist,  1791. 
Jasper  Smith  and  many  others  in  and  about  Flemington, 
sent  a  statement  to  Mr.  Grant,  and  a  request  that  should 
he  be  settled  over  the  Amwell  Churches,  to  preach  one 
fourth  of  his  time  at  Flemington,  either  in  the  Court 
House  or  in  the  Baptist  Church,  which  could  be  secured 
when  not  in  use  by  the  people  of  that  Church,  or  else  in 
private  houses.  For  such  service  they  agree  to  pay  him 
their  proportionate  part.  For  some  unknown  reason  this 
failed  also.  Our  subscription  papers,  hitherto  circulated 
have  revealed  to  us  the  fact,  that  the  part  of  the  congre- 
gation north  of  the  Neshanic,  or  the  Flemington  branch 
was  stronger  numerically  and  financially,  than  the  part 
south  of  the  Neshanic.  It  is  not  surprising  that  it  was 
next  proposed  to  tear  down  the  old  House  (Amwell 
First),  and  that  a  new  Church  be  erected  at  Flemington, 
which  was  more  central.  This  proposition  failed  to  se- 
cure a  sufficient  number  of  supporters  and  was  aband- 
oned. 

June  23rd,  1 79 1,  a  paper  was  circulated  and  signed  by 


126  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

fifty-five  persons,  residing  in  and  about  Flemington,  re- 
questing Presbytery  to  form  them  into  a  church.  Very 
many  of  these  signers  were  members  of  the  Amwell  First 
Church  and  congregation.  Three  of  these  signers,  viz. 
Jasper  Smith,  Thomas  Reading  and  Arthur  Gray,  were 
Trustees  of  Amwell  First.  These  trustees  informed  the 
members  of  the  Amwell  First  Corporation,  August  27th, 
that  this  application  would  be  laid  before  Presbytery  at 
its  next  meeting  in  October  at  Pennington.  Jasper  Smith 
appeared  before  Presbytery  in  behalf  of  the  petitioners,  re- 
questing Presbytery  to  form  them  into  a  new  Church. 
This  request  was  opposed  by  the  Churches  of  First  and 
Second  Amwell  through  their  representative  Mr.  John 
Frail,  Jr. 

The  Presbytery,  after  hearing  both  parties  resolved  that 
it  would  be  imprudent  to  decide  at  present.  Presbytery 
adjourned  to  meet  at  Amwell  First  on  the  first  Tuesday 
of  November  at  eleven  o'clock.  Dr.  Smith  of  Princeton 
College  was  appointed  to  preach  at  Amwell  First,  on  the 
preceding  Sabbath.  Great  interest  was  taken  in  the  object 
to  come  before  Presbytery,  as  shown  by  the  persons  who 
attended  the  meeting.  Among  others,  were  Dr.  Smith, 
Dr.  Witherspoon,  Mr.  Armstrong  of  Trenton  and  Mr. 
Clark  of  Allentown. 

At  this  meeting,  as  at  the  previous  one,  the  parties  had 
a  full  and  satisfactory  hearing.  It  will  be  of  interest,  to 
all  to  have  the  chief  reasons  which  were  presented  for  re- 
moval of  the  Church  or  eventually  for  a  new  organiza- 
tion at  Flemington.  They  were  presented  by  Jasper 
Smith,  and  we  have  the  manuscript  containing  the  points 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1776-1820     127 

of  his  argument.     He  gives  some  disadvantages  of  the 
present  situation,  and  advantages  of  a  charge. 

(i)  The  number  of  members  have  for  many  years 
been  decreasing,  as  shov^^n  by  the  book.  The  reason  why, 
the  Old  Church  is  ex-central.  It  was  built  fifty-two  years 
ago  for  the  people  between  the  Delaware  river  and  the 
Dutch  Church  at  Reading  Town.  (This  statement  is 
very  important  as  giving  the  age  of  the  Old  Church- 
building,  fifty-two  years  before  1791). 

(2)  A  new  Church  (Second  Amwell)  taking  off  a 
part,  is  erected  between  this  and  the  Delaware. 

(3)  Reading  Town  Dutch  Church,  having  all  its  ser- 
vices in  English,  has  taken  off  many  over  South  Branch 
and  is  likely  to  draw  off  others. 

(4)  This  Church  is  unfinished,  and, ever  likely  to  be. 
When  people  come,  there  is  not  a  house  with  fire  to  warm 
by,  or  any  victuals  or  drink  to  be  had  for  the  hungry  and 
thirsty. 

Some  of  the  advantages. 

(i)  This  (Flemington)  is  a  village  containing  a  num- 
ber of  houses,  where  a  minister  coming  to  preach,  cold  and 
hungry,  may  be  refreshed  before  he  goes  into  the  pulpit, 
which  cannot  be  done  here  (at  the  old  Church).  There 
are  important  facts  to  be  read  between  the  lines  in  this 
and  the  previous  reason. 

(2)  Because  Flemington  is  nearly  central  to  the  peo- 
ple, who  would  naturally  join  (or  attend)  the  Church 
when  erected.  This  appears  from  the  several  subscrip- 
tions of  April  1st,  1 79 1,  and  October  15th.  Also  the 
association  of  the  23rd  of  June  last. 

(3)  There  is  a  considerable  sum  of  money  already  sub- 


128  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

scribed  for  building  a  Church,  which,  with  what  may  rea- 
sonably be  expected,  will  go  far  to  build  a  comfortable 
house  at  Flemington. 

(4)  The  removal  of  the  Church  will  be  more  con- 
venient, and  not  so  far  from  any  member  as  the  old 
Church  now  is,  for  John  M.  Reading  and  Charles  Read- 
ing, who  have  always  attended  here. 

(5)  In  and  about  Flemington  there  are  now  upward 
of  forty  pounds  subscribed  for  salary  to  be  paid  annually. 

(6)  There  would  always  be  a  full  house  at  Fleming- 
ton   (?)  which  is  very  desirable. 

(7)  Flemington  is  an  increasing  place  and  the  body 
of  the  people  Presbyterian. 

In  answer  to  the  petitioners.  Presbytery  resolved  unan- 
imously that  in  the  present  circumstances,  matters  do  not 
appear  ripe  for  forming  them  into  a  new  congregation, 
that  Presbytery  would  cheerfully  form  them  into  a  new- 
congregation  at  Flemington,  if  it  had  no  appearance  of 
weakening  the  congregations  of  Amwell.  They  earnestly 
advise  all  parties  to  unite  in  prosecuting  the  call  to  Mr. 
Grant,  and  to  pursue  such  measure  as  would  tend  to  peace. 
Resolved  also,  that  Mr.  Grant  (provided  he  accept  the 
calls  prepared  for  him  by  said  congregations)  preach  one- 
fourth  part  of  his  time  at  Amwell  First,  one-fourth  at 
Flemington,  and  the  remaining  half  at  Amwell  Second 
Church,  and  that  the  salary  be  apportioned  to  the  time  at 
each  place." 

And  in  order  to  promote  the  union  and  interests  of 
these  congregations  ordered  that  Dr.  Witherspoon  preach 
at  Amwell  First  Church  the  first  Sabbath  of  November, 
and  that  Dr.  Smith  preach  at  Flemington  the  first  Sab- 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1776-1820     129 

bath  of  December.  The  parties  having  heard  the  minutes 
read,  agreed  to  stand  by  the  decision  of  Presbytery,  and  to 
prosecute  the  call  to  Mr.  Grant  agreeably  to  the  meaning 
and  intent  of  this  decision.  The  annual  provision  for 
salary  was  £130  gold  or  silver,  besides  the  free  use  of  a 
parsonage  of  £700  or  £800  value.  At  this  meeting  of 
Presbytery  the  call  vi^as  tendered  to  Mr.  Grant  and  he 
signified  his  acceptance  of  the  same. 

The  second  Tuesday  of  December  at  eleven  o'clock, 
v^^as  appointed  for  his  ordination  and  installation.  This 
service  v^as  held  December  13th,  1791.  The  Moderator 
of  Presbytery  Rev.  Joseph  Clark,  preached,  and  Rev.  John 
Hannah  presided  and  proposed  the  constitutional  ques- 
tions. Mr.  Clark  also  gave  the  charge  to  the  "newly  or- 
dained bishop."  ^ 

Much  as  the  members  of  this  Church  regretted  and  op- 
posed the  action  of  the  Flemington  people,  and  naturally, 
for  they  could  see  that  it  must  result  in  a  separate  Church 
and  greatly  weaken  the  old  Church.  Yet  it  was  inevita- 
ble, and  in  view  of  the  history  of  that  movement,  we  of 
Amwell  First  must  admit  that  for  the  greater  honor  of 
the  Master  and  the  saving  of  men,  it  was  wise. 

And  while  the  Presbytery  hesitated  to  grant  their  re- 
quest, saying  "matters  do  not  appear  ripe  for  forming  a 
new  congregation,"  their  action  in  recommending  a  call 
to  Mr.  Grant,  and  that  one-fourth  of  his  time  be  given 
to  Flemington,  practically  accomplished  what  they  de- 
clined to  do.  For  on  the  9th  of  January,  1792,  these 
same  petitioners  met  after  due  notice,  in  the  Baptist 
Church  as  a  Society  under  the  Presbytery  of  New  Bruns- 
wick, and  according  to  the  laws  of  the  State  for  Religious 


I30  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

bodies,  did  form  themselves  into  a  body  corporate,  and 
did  then  and  there  choose  Trustees.  And  these  Trustees 
being  duly  sworn  in,  on  the  28th  of  January  inst.  that 
they  might  be  distinguished  in  Law  from  other  incorpor- 
ated bodies,  styled  themselves  Trustees  of  Flemington 
English  Presbyterian  Church  in  Amwell  in  the  County 
of  Hunterdon  and  state  of  New  Jersey. 

The  document  recording  this  incorporation,  and  all  its 
particulars,  is  on  file,  among  the  unengrossed  papers  from 
which  we  have  drawn  at  first  hand  so  many  of  the  original 
facts  of  this  history.  This  act  of  incorporation  of  the 
Church  at  Flemington,  occurring  at  the  very  opening  of 
Mr.  Grant's  pastorate  is  doubtless  the  most  significant 
event  of  that  pastorate,  both  to  the  mother  Church,  and 
the  new  organization. 

For  the  event  that  follows  close  after  this,  and  the  first 
on  record,  we  have  the  satisfaction  of  going  to  the  min- 
ute book  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Old  Church  Corporation. 
The  first  entry  of  this  old  book  of  the  Trustees  is  as  fol- 
lows: Amwell,  April,  1792,  Trustees  of  the  First  and 
Second  English  Presbyterian  Churches  in  Amwell  pur- 
chased a  plantation  of  Jacob  Williamson  for  a  parsonage 
containing  120  acres  of  land  for  £650  to  be  paid  in  three 
equal  payments,  £216  13s  4d  down — or  on  the  first  day  of 
May  next — and  the  same  amount  the  first  day  of  May, 
1793  and  1794,  requiring  of  each  congregation  for  each 
payment  £108.6.8.  At  the  same  time  the  Trustees  sold 
to  Henry  Kanaday  (Kenedy)  40^  acres  off  the  old  plan- 
tation leaving  34  acres  to  be  united  with  the  new  planta- 
tion for  £126.2  to  be  paid  in  three  payments,  £85.7.4 
down,  and  £20.7.4  ^^  the  first  of  May,  1793,  and  the 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1 776-1820     131 

same  May  first,  1794.  The  money  arising  from  this 
sale  was  to  be  equally  divided  between  the  First  and 
Second  Amwell  Churches. 

Now  that  the  contributors  of  the  Flemington  district, 
are  no  longer  among  the  supporters  of  Amwell  First,  it 
will  be  of  interest  to  see  who  are  the  men  in  Amwell  First 
who  are  ready  to  take  up  the  financial  burden.  They  are 
given  as  follows: 

Collection  list  for  the  first  payment  on  the  purchase  of 
a   parsonage : 

£    s.     d. 

John  Schenck,  Capt 4  00    o 

Peter   Prall    210     o 

Ralph  Schenck,  Sen 3     6     8 

Enos  Lanning    i     3     4 

Derrick   Sutphin    3  00     o 

John  Williamson    i     6     8 

Ralph   Sutphin    i  00     o 

Jacob  Williamson    2  00     o 

Garret  Schenck   4  00     o 

Jacob  Schenck   i  00     o 

Gersham   Cravan    2  00     o 

Henry   Kannady    4  13     4 

David  Bishop    ,     4  00     o 

Abraham  Prall   5  00     o 

Tunis  Quick,  Sen 5  00    o 

Hite   Runyan    i   10     o 

Lewis  Chamberlin    5  00     o 

Joshua  Kershaw    5  00     o 

Abraham   Williamson    5  00     o 

Amos  Hoagland  3     6     8 


132  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Jacob  Mattison    i    13     4 

William   Schenck    5  00     o 


70  10     o 

John  Schenck,  collector,  received  £68.17.6.  This  with 
the  half  of  £85  7s  4d  from  the  sale  of  the  old  plantation 
was  more  than  enough  for  the  first  payment,  but  the  list 
for  the  next  two  payments  was  much  smaller,  and  the 
amount  collected  insufficient  for  the  payments.  But  in 
1 796  the  Trustees  borrowed  money  and  paid  off  the  debt. 

The  third  event  which  characterized  Mr.  Grant's  pas- 
torate, was  the  sale  of  this  plantation.  This  took  place 
April  1st,  1806,  Nathaniel  Wilson  was  the  purchaser. 
The  price  paid  was  six  thousand  four  hundred  and  twen- 
ty-nine dollars  and  thirty-three  cents  ($6,429.33).  And 
although,  as  stated,  the  Trustees  of  Amwell  First  had  a 
book  of  records,  which  is  in  existence,  and  dates  back  to 
1792,  when  it  records  the  purchase  of  this  property,  the 
sale  of  it  is  not  recorded  in  that  book.  However,  we  have 
the  date,  price  and  particulars  of  the  same  preserved  in 
the  parchment  Deed  on  file  among  the  papers  of  the 
Church.  The  names  of  the  Trustees  making  this  sale, 
are  from  the  First  English  Presbyterian  Church  of  Am- 
well, John  Schenck,  Amos  Hoagland,  Derrick  Sutphin, 
Enos  Lanning,  Ralph  Schenck,  Jacob  Schenck  and  Titus 
Quick,  and  from  the  Second  Church,  John  Reading,  John 
Prall,  Jr.,  John  Wilson,  Samuel  Holcombe,  Jr.,  Jo- 
siah  Holcombe,  Amos  Wilson  and  John  T.  Skillman. 

After  the  sale  of  this  property,  Mr.  Grant  received  a 
consideration  from  the  Trustees  as  rent,  for  which  he 
gives  his  receipts. 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1 776-1820     133 

Turning  from  the  material  to  the  spiritual  interests  of 
the  Church,  we  have  during  Mr.  Grant's  pastorate,  as 
we  have  from  that  of  his  predecessors,  very  little  definite 
information.  And  we  do  not  have  even  in  the  minutes 
of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick  a  record  of  the 
communicants  of  the  Church,  nor  any  regular  statement 
of  its  beneficence.  The  health  of  Mr.  Grant  during  the 
closing  years  of  his  ministry  was  such,  that  he  frequently 
failed  to  meet  his  appointments  to  preach.  The  Flem- 
ington  Church  met  this  condition  by  appointing  some  one 
to  read  a  sermon,  and  two  of  the  Trustees  were  appointed 
to  keep  order  at  the  same  time.  The  Second  Amwell 
Church  felt  his  failure  to  preach  so  keenly,  that  many 
of  the  supporters  refused  to  pay  their  salary. 

These  facts  were  sent  with  manifest  reluctance  in  a 
memorial  to  the  Revd.  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick 
April  I,  1809.  In  the  same  communications  the  Presby- 
tery was  informed  that  a  joint  committee  from  the  First 
and  Second  Churches  have  waited  on  Mr.  Grant,  and 
invited  him  to  meet  the  corporation  of  these  Churches, 
and  talk  over  the  situation  and  in  a  friendly  manner  they 
requested  him  to  agree  to  an  application  for  the  dissolu- 
tion of  the  pastoral  relation  between  them  and  himself. 
This  he  declined  to  do.  The  committee,  however,  re- 
quests of  Presbytery,  the  dissolution  of  the  relation.  The 
report  is  signed  by 

Amwell,  April  ist,  1809. 

Jonathan  Borroughs,  Moderator. 
Samuel  Holcombe,  Jr.,  Clerk. 

We  are  not  informed  what  steps  the  Presbytery  took  in 
this  matter,  but  it  is  stated  that  Rev.  Thomas  Grant  pre- 


134  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

sented  a  request  for  the  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation 
between  himself  and  the  Churches  which  he  served,  and 
Presbytery  granted  his  request. 

After  his  withdrawal  from  the  Amwell  Churches,  Mr. 
Grant  moved  to  Mill  Hill,  near  Trenton.  Here  he  ex- 
perienced a  new  affliction  in  the  death  of  his  second  wife, 
which  occurred  August  9th,  1809.  Mrs.  Bryan  Grant 
was  buried  in  the  old  Amwell  burying  ground  in  a  grave 
adjoining  that  of  her  sister,  and  her  sister's  husband,  Hon. 
George  C.  Maxwell,  M.  C,  of  Flemington,  and  who 
had  been  esteemed  one  of  the  ablest  lawyers  of  Hunter- 
don Co.  Mr.  Grant  and  Elizabeth,  eldest  daughter  of 
John  Bryan,  Esq.,  of  Somerset  County,  had  been  married 
December  6th,  1805.  The  issue  of  this  union  was  one 
child,  Elizabeth,  as  shown  in  her  father's  will. 

Mr.  Grant  himself  died  in  March,  181 1,  and  was 
buried  according  to  the  True  American  in  the  Presbyter- 
ian Church  yard,  Trenton,  and  that  paper  added  "Rarely 
has  the  Church  been  called  upon  to  mourn  the  departure 
of  a  more  solid,  judicious  and  evangelical  divine." 

Further  obituary  notice  of  Mr.  Grant  seems  to  be 
called  for.  Especially  so,  because  up  to  the  present  time 
no  account  of  his  life  and  work  has  been  published.  Even 
Dr.  Mott,  in  his  day  the  historian  of  Hunterdon  Co.,  felt 
compelled  to  say,  when  he  published  his  history  of  the 
Church  at  Flemington,  of  which  Mr.  Grant  was  the  first 
pastor,  that  he  had  no  facts  of  Mr.  Grant's  life  excepting 
his  graduation  and  the  statement  of  his  pastorate  of  the 
Amwell  and  Flemington  Churches.  After  the  publication 
of  that  history  there  came  into  his  hands  the  manuscript 
copy  of  the  sermon  v..  which  had  been  preached  at  Mr. 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1 776-1 820     135 

Grant's  funeral.  By  whom  this  sermon  had  been  written 
he  did  not  know.  Dr.  Mott  kindly  sent  that  manuscript 
to  me.  The  preacher  claims  to  have  been  a  co-presbyter 
with  Mr.  Grant,  and  to  speak  from  personal  knowledge. 
We  gladly  cull  the  few  facts  thus  furnished.  In  the  mat- 
ter of  the  difficulty  between  Mr.  Grant  and  the  Amwell 
Churches,  he  views  the  case  from  the  other  side.  He  in- 
forms us  that  Mr.  Grant's  parents  had  moved  from  New 
York  to  New  Brunswick  during  his  early  childhood,  and 
that  he  lived  there  until  he  entered  the  ministry  excepting 
the  period  of  his  studies  at  Princeton.  After  his  gradua- 
tion in  1786,  he  applied  himself  to  the  study  of  divinity, 
and  received  an  early  call  from  one  of  the  largest  and 
most  respectable  congregations  of  the  State.  This  was  to 
the  Amwell  ist  and  2nd  and  Flemington  Churches.  "Dur- 
ing the  first  and  longest  part  of  his  ministry  in  these 
Churches  he  met  with  but  little  apparent  success.  It 
pleased  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church,  however,  to  give 
him  abundant  success  in  the  latter  years  of  his  ministry,  in 
the  congregations  of  Amwell  and  Flemington.  Then  dis- 
cord arose  and  the  pastor's  health  failed,  which  finally 
drove  him  from  his  pulpit."  Mr.  Grant,  as  the  minutes 
of  General  Assembly  show,  represented  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Brunswick  in  the  General  Assembly  in  1802.  I  can 
supplement  the  information  furnished  by  the  manuscript, 
by  adding  some  interesting  facts  sent  me  by  Mr.  Granville 
Leach  of  Philadelphia,  which  he  discovered  in  some  of  the 
Archives  of  New  Jersey,  while  searching  for  the  date  of 
the  marriage  of  Theodosia,  daughter  of  Captain  Daniel 
Reading  and  Rev.  Thomas  Grant.  We  thus  learn  that 
Rev.  Thomas  Grant  was  the  son  of  Thomas  Grant,  and 


i36  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Catherine  Stevens,  his  wife,  and  that  he  was  born  in  New 
York  city,  i6th  of  March,  1763.  He  was  baptized  at 
the  Presbyterian  Church  of  that  city  31st  of  March  of 
the  same  year.  Then  it  gives  his  graduation  and  settle- 
ment in  Amwell  as  already  stated." 

He  resigned  the  pastorate  of  these  United  Churches 
at  the  meeting  of  Presbytery  in  April,  1809.  His  pas- 
torate extending  from  1791  to  1809,  makes  his  the  longest 
pastorate  in  the  history  of  Amwell  First.  Both  Amwell 
Second  and  Flemington  have  had  pastorates  much  longer 
than  this. 

Early  in  this  pastorate  occurred  the  marriage  of  Theo- 
dosia  Reading  and  Mr.  Grant,  date  of  which  has  not  been 
discovered.  The  children  of  this  union  were  Catherine 
Stevens  Grant,  bom  16  August,  1793.  She  was  married 
June  6th,  18 15,  to  Abraham  Schuyler  Neilson,  Esq.,  of 
New  Brunswick.  And  Theodosia  Grant  who  married 
Rev.  William  Whitehead.  Also  Thomas  and  John  Grant. 
Mr.  Grant's  second  marriage  has  already  been  given.  Mr. 
Leach  adds — The  inventory  of  his  property,  filed  at  Tren- 
ton, among  the  Burlington  Co.  probate  files,  is  most  in- 
teresting, showing  a  degree  of  affluence  which  I  should 
think  rather  uncommon  among  clergy  of  small  parishes  of 
that  period. 

Of  this  statement  he  gives  the  following  illustration: 
His  will  was  proved  at  Burlington,  N.  J.,  9  April,  181 1, 
which  showed  him  to  be  possessed  of  considerable  real 
estate  in  Virginia  and  that  his  personal  property  was  in- 
ventoried at  twenty-five  thousand  dollars,  Archives,  N.  J. 
David  Bishop  was  one  of  the  active  elders  during  Mr. 
Grant's  pastorate.  He  represented  the  Presbytery  of  New 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1776-1820     137 

Brunswick  in  the  General  Assembly  in  1803.  Abraham 
Prall  was  another.  Also  Joseph  Reading  was  a  member 
of  the  session.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Amwell  Second 
Church  and  an  elder  in  the  same. 

THE  REV.  JACOB  KIRKPATRICK, 
181O-1818. 

In  continuing  our  ''walk  about  Zion  to  tell  her  towers 
and  mark  her  bulwarks"  we  come  now  to  a  name  en- 
deared among  the  older  members  of  this  Church  more 
than  that  of  any  other  pastor.  The  Rev.  Jacob  Kirkpat- 
rick,  the  sixth  pastor  of  Amwell  First,  is  really  the  con- 
necting link  between  the  past  and  the  present.  No  pre- 
vious pastor  of  this  Church  was  personally  known  by  any 
of  our  members  now  living,  and  he  not  perhaps  by  his 
pastorate  over  this  Church,  but  because  he  continued  to 
reside  and  labor  in  a  neighboring  congregation.  The 
resignation  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Grant  occurred  as  stated 
in  1809.  Mr.  Kirkpatrick  together  with  his  friend  and 
fellow  student,  Jacob  T.  Field,  was  taken  under  the  care 
of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  October  7th,  1807. 
Their  next  appearance  in  Presbytery,  was  on  April  26th, 
1809,  when  each  read  a  lecture.  They  were  both  li- 
censed to  preach  the  gospel  August  8th,  1809.  Mr.  Kirk- 
patrick preached  for  the  first  time  in  this  Church,  the 
Old  Meeting  House,  as  it  was  then  called  in  September, 
1809.  Afterwards,  by  appointment  of  Presbytery  he 
preached  in  Amwell  five  Sabbaths  in  December,  1809, 
and  in  February  and  April,  18 10.  It  is  to  be  presumed 
that  during  this  appointment  of  Presbytery,  he  preached 
in  all  the  Amwell  Churches,  though  he  does  not  so  state 


tsS  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

in  his  semi-centennial  sermon,  nor  do  his  biographers. 
From  the  Records  of  Presbytery,  it  appears  he  was  called 
to  take  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  Amwell  Churches. 
This  call  was  presented  at  the  meeting  of  Presbytery  at 
Trenton  April  24th,  18 10.  The  call  was  made  out  in 
due  form  except  that  it  was  for  five  years,  and  the  phase 
"for  five  years"  was  underscored.  Dr.  Kirkpatrick  in  re- 
ferring to  this  time  limit,  in  his  semi-centennial  discourse 
says  Dr.  S.  Stanhope  Smith  casting  his  keen  eye  upon  me 
remarked,  "I  would  throw  it  back  in  their  teeth."  The 
reason  for  adding  this  limitation  in  their  call,  as  explained 
by  Dr.  Kirkpatrick,  was  because  of  the  trouble  that  had 
existed  between  the  Church,  and  the  previous  pastor.  Dur- 
ing the  latter  part  of  Mr.  Grant's  pastorate,  his  health 
became  very  much  impaired,  so  that  he  often  failed  to 
meet  his  appointments,  and  yet  declined  to  resign  the 
charge  at  the  suggestion  of  the  people.  Because  of  this 
difficulty,  the  Church  had  unwisely  decided  not  to  call 
another  man  for  life  as  they  put  it,  the  fact  being  that  a 
call  in  due  form  is  without  a  time  limit.  Mr.  Kirkpatrick 
however,  signified  his  willingness  to  take  charge  of  the 
Churches.  But  the  Presbytery,  being  unwilling  to  place 
the  call  in  his  hands,  and  install  him  for  five  years,  ap- 
pointed him  as  a  stated  supply  to  the  Amwell  Churches 
for  that  period  and  so  the  young  preacher  began  his  labors. 
On  the  19th  of  June,  18 10,  the  Presbytery  met  in  the 
Amwell  First  Church  and  heard  the  candidate's  trial  ser- 
mon for  ordination  from  Col.  3  14  and  on  the  next  day 
June  20th,  Mr.  Kirkpatrick  was  ordained,  but  not  in- 
stalled. Dr.  John  Woodhull,  of  Freehold,  with  whom 
he  had  studied  for  the  ministry,  preached  the  sermon,  and 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1776- 1820     139 

made  the  ordaining  prayer.  The  Rev.  HoUoway  W. 
Hunt  gave  the  charge  to  the  minister,  and  delivered  a 
suitable  address  to  the  people.  Originally,  you  will  re- 
member, our  own  Church,  Amwell  First,  was  the  only 
Church  on  the  territory  from  the  Delaware  to  Somerset 
Co.  and  the  Readington  Reformed  Church.  In  1754 
Amwell  Second  was  organized,  and  the  two  Churches 
formed  but  one  pastoral  charge  up  to  1809  and  they  con- 
tinued to  have  the  same  pastor  until  18 18.  Between 
these  two  Churches  was  the  German  Church  at  Larison's 
Corner,  or  formerly  Pleasant  Comer.  The  time  of  the 
organization  of  the  German  Church  can  not  now  be  defi- 
nitely stated.  The  people  who  worshipped  there  came 
originally  from  Germany  and  Holland.  The  Church  be- 
longed to  the  Coetus  or  German  Reformed  Synod  of 
Pennsylvania.  They  worshipped,  in  what  was  known  as 
"The  Old  Stone  House,"  which  stood  in  the  graveyard, 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road  from  the  present  Church. 
The  deed  for  the  land  on  which  this  "Old  Stone 
Church"  stood,  is  dated  the  twenty-first  day  of  January 
in  the  twenty-second  year  of  the  reign  of  our  sovereign 
Lord  George,  the  Second,  over  Great  Britain,  etc.  King, 
Anno  Dom.  One  Thousand  Seven  Hundred  and  Forty- 
nine."  The  Church  was  dedicated  December  ist,  1749. 
In  the  erection  of  the  building,  the  Church  received  aid 
from  the  Old  Dutch  Church  in  New  York  City,  whose 
records  state  that  "it  was  resolved  to  pay  £15  to  the  High 
Dutch  Reformed  congregation  which  meets  at  Amwell 
for  Christian  help  in  building  a  Church  for  divine  ser- 
vice. Since  their  own  means  fall  short.  John  Ritzema, 
pastor."     (Rev.  C.  S.  Converse,  p.  7).    To  this  may  be 


140  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

added  Dr.  Kirkpatrick's  statement  that  the  deed  by  which 
the  German  Church  held  their  graveyard  is  dated  1740 
(p.  8). 

This  shows  them  to  have  been  on  the  ground  very  near- 
ly as  early  as  the  founders  of  our  own  Church.  This 
German  Church  was  served  by  pastors  from  both  Ger- 
many and  Holland.  The  first  of  these  preachers,  of  whom 
we  have  any  record,  though  he  was  never  settled  as  pastor 
in  Amwell,  was  the  Rev.  Michael  Schlatter.  He  visited 
Amwell  as  early  as  1747,  and  administered  the  Sacrament. 
He  found  thirty  communicants  on  the  ground  at  that 
time. 

From  Rev.  C.  C.  Converse's  historical  discourse  I  add 
the  following:  "The  next  supply  to  the  German  Church 
was  Rev.  John  Conrad  Wertz.  He  also  supplied  Rocka- 
way  and  Fox  Hill.  The  next  was  the  Rev.  Johann  Cas- 
per Lapp,  preaching  in  1755,  and  6.  We  then  have  the 
Rev.  William  Kails  1757-59.  The  Rev.  George  Alsentz 
is  mentioned  as  preaching  in  Amwell  in  1760.  He  was 
followed  by  the  Rev.  Caspar  Michael  Stabel  or  Stapfel. 
He  preached  also  at  Rockaway  and  Fox  Hill.  The  Rev. 
Frederick  Dallicker  was  Mr.  Sapfel's  successor,  1763- 
1770.  Then  we  have  Rev.  John  Wesley  Gilbert  Nevel- 
ing,  1 770-1 783,  covering  the  period  of  the  Revolution. 
After  the  war  there  appears  to  have  been  a  vacancy  for 
about  fifteen  years,  yet  doubtless  some  pastor  or  pastors 
visited  the  Church  from  time  to  time  during  this  vacancy, 
of  whom  all  trace  has  been  lost." 

The  last  of  these  German  pastors  was  the  Rev.  John  Ja- 
cob Mack.  He  preached  also  in  the  two  Dutch  Churches 
of  Knowlton,  and  Hardwick  at  the  same  time  he  was  pas- 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1 776-1820     141 

tor  here.  The  date  of  his  pastorate  is  differently  stated 
by  different  authorities,  from  1798  to  1805,  or  1809.  He 
was  a  man  of  commanding  appearance,  and  a  ready  and 
fluent  speaker,  in  both  German  and  English.  He  was  the 
first  pastor  who  preached  in  the  English  language  in  that 
Church  (Converse,  p.  12).  This  statement  shows  the 
trend  of  the  times.  The  German  language  was  giving 
way  to  the  English,  even  in  the  German  families.  The 
children  must  be  supplied  with  English  preaching,  or 
they  will  go  where  they  can  get  it.  This  granted,  it  re- 
quires but  a  generation  to  supplant  the  German  altogeth- 
er. On  the  same  principle,  they  must  withdraw  from  the 
distant  German  Synod,  and  become  identified  with  an  ec- 
clesiastical body  near  at  hand,  and  more  in  touch  with 
their  surroundings.  Such  a  movement  was  favored  by 
the  fact  that  the  Rev.  Thomas  Grant  had  in  April,  1809, 
resigned  the  pastorate  of  Amwell  First,  Amwell  Second 
and  Flemington  Churches.  The  four  neighboring 
Churches  were  thus  without  a  pastor  at  the  same  time. 
Flemington  was  the  youngest,  and  the  weakest  of  these 
Churches.  The  Flemington  people  came  to  the  Grerman 
Church  offering  to  unite  with  it  in  calling  and  supporting 
a  pastor.  The  overture  was  favorably  considered,  and 
would,  in  all  probability  have  been  accepted  had  not  Am- 
well First  approached  the  German  Church  with  a  similar 
proposition.  All  the  three  Amwell  Churches  had  funds 
in  hand  for  repairs  and  supporting  the  gospel  at  this 
time  together  yielding  an  income  of  about  six  hundred 
dollars  annually.  Flemington  was  without  funds.  Not 
only  for  this  reason  as  it  appears,  but  because  union  with 


142  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Amwell  First  was  the  more  natural  and  wiser,  the  pro- 
posal to  unite  with  Amwell  First  was  accepted. 

Concerning  this  movement  Dr.  Jacob  Kirkpatrick 
makes  this  every  significant  statement.  "In  the  early  part 
of  the  year  1810,  the  people  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  and  the  German  Church  came  together.  They 
elected  their  trustees,  and  were  incorporated  according  to 
law,  assuming  the  name  of  The  United  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Amiuell.  They  became  by  this  act  one  organic 
Church,  having  two  branches  or  places  of  service.  The 
funds  of  the  First  Church  and  the  German  Church, 
though  managed  by  one  board  of  Trustees,  were  kept  sep- 
arate. And  the  whole  charge  was  under  the  care  of  one 
session  (Converse,  p.  14).  The  call  presented  to  Presby- 
tery April  24th,  1 8 10,  for  Mr.  Kirkpatrick's  service  ''for 
five  years,"  was  for  what  are  now  the  three  Amwell 
Churches.  At  the  expiration  of  this  period,  the  Amwell 
people  came  to  Presbytery  April  25th,  181 5,  and  presented 
a  call  in  due  form  for  Mr.  Kirkpatrick  to  take  the  pastoral 
charge  of  their  Churches.  On  the  15  th  of  June  follow- 
ing in  the  Old  Stone  Church,  the  Rev.  Jacob  Kirkpatrick 
was  installed,  and  thus  became  the  pastor  of  these 
Churches.  In  this  service,  his  cousin,  the  Rev.  William 
B.  Sloan,  of  Greenwich,  N.  J.,  preached  the  sermon,  and 
the  Rev.  George  S.  Woodhull  gave  the  charge  to  the  pas- 
tor and  the  people. 

The  relation  between  these  Churches  was  not  changed 
by  this  act,  nor  was  that  of  Dr.  Kirkpatrick's  relation  to 
them  changed  as  to  the  time  of  service.  The  act,  however, 
consummated  the  relation  and  gave  him  the  authority  of 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1 776-1820     143 

the  office  and  the  seal  of  the  Presbytery.  This  is  really 
very  much. 

Dr.  Kfrkpatrick  informs  us  that  he  preached  eight  years 
in  these  houses  of  worship,  commonly  called  the  Old 
House,  the  New  House  and  the  Stone  House.  The  Old 
House  was  our  Church,  Amwell  First,  the  New  House, 
Amwell  Second  and  the  Stone  House  that  at  Larison's 
Corner.  These  were  the  local  names  by  which  they  were 
known  at  the  time. 

While  speaking  of  the  names  of  these  Churches,  it  will 
clear  up,  what  has  long  been  obscure,  to  add  other  names 
by  which  these  Churches  have  been  known,  and  state  the 
relation  they  have,  or  have  had  to  each  other.  First,  be 
it  remembered  that  they  are  all  situated  along  the  "Old 
York  Road,"  which  runs  in  practically  a  direct  line  east 
and  west  from  Lambertville  to  Reaville,  where  the  road 
turns  northward  to  Three  Bridges.  Amwell  First  is  at 
Reaville  since  1839.  Previous  to  that  date  it  or  its  pre- 
decessor was  located  in  the  Cemetery  a  mile  to  the  west. 
At  first,  when  it  was  the  only  Church  it  was  called  the 
Amwell  Church  or  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Amwell. 
Shortly  afterward  when  the  German  Church  was  estab- 
lished at  Pleasant  Corner  (now  Larison's  Corner)  our 
Church  was  called  the  English  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Amwell.  Then  in  1754  we  have  the  Church  at  Mount 
Airy,  as  an  offspring  of  the  First  Church.  Our  Church 
is  known  as  the  Eastern  Presbyterian  Church  in  Amwell 
or  the  First  English  Presbyterian  Church  in  Amwell  and 
Mt.  Airy  the  Second.  The  old  Trustee  book  calls  ours 
The  Amwell  First  Church  and  sometimes  the  First  Eng- 
lish Presbyterian  Church  in  Amwell,  which  name  is  so 


144  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

used  as  late  as  1865,  when  building  the  parsonage,  and 
still  belongs  to  it.  The  Presbytery  in  the  olden  time  uses 
the  terms  Old  House  and  New  House.  Thus  Dr.  With- 
erspoon  was  appointed  to  preach  in  the  Old  House  and 
administer  the  Sacrament  the  third  Sabbath  in  June,  1779, 
and  to  preach  the  third  Sabbath  in  July. 

Dr.  Samuel  Stanhope  Smith  was  appointed  to  preach 
on  the  first  Sabbath  in  August  and  the  first  Sabbath  in 
September  at  the  New  House,  i.  e.  ( Mount  Airy,  which  is 
farthest  to  the  West).  Between  these  two  Churches  was 
the  German  Church,  having  no  connection  with  either  un- 
til 1 8 10. 

And  then  the  interesting  fact,  given  by  Dr.  Kirkpatrick 
in  his  historical  discourse,  that  the  Church  at  the  ''Corn- 
er" and  our  Church  during  the  time  our  Church  was  un- 
der his  pastoral  care,  bore  in  common,  the  name  of  The 
United  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Amwell. 

Dr.  Kirkpatrick  considered  this  fact  of  so  much  import- 
ance, that  when  starting  a  new  minute  book  In  1863,  he 
states  on  the  first  page,  and  over  his  own  signature,  the 
fact  as  I  have  quoted  it  from  his  discourse  delivered  in 
i860.  He  evidently  desired  to  have  the  origin  of  this 
name  preserved,  as  an  interesting  fact  in  the  history  of 
the  two  Churches. 

As  the  origin  of  the  name  has  either  been  overlooked  or 
erroneously  applied,  I  further  state,  as  "true  to  the  truth 
of  things,"  that  the  people  considered  themselves  as  con- 
stituting at  the  time  of  the  union  but  one  Church.  As 
evidence,  I  quote  the  following  from  the  old  congrega- 
tional and  Trustee  book,  page  84:  "At  a  meeting  of  the 
United  First  Congregation  of  Amwell,  held  at  the  Old 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1 776-1820     145 

Presbyterian  meeting  house,  this  Second  day  of  February, 
1818,  agreeably  to  lawful  notice  by  advertisement,  and 
also  publication  from  the  pulpit,  for  the  purpose  of  taking 
into  consideration  the  propriety  and  necessity  of  building 
a  new  house  in  place  of  the  Old  House  and  Stone  House 
(local  name  of  the  German  Church).  Said  congregation 
proceeded  to  the  choice  of  a  Clerk  and  Moderator,  when 
Jeremiah  Kershaw  was  chosen  Moderator,  and  John  Kee, 
Clerk. 

A  motion  was  made  and  seconded — Are  we  one  con- 
gregation or  two  congregations  unitedf  Carried  unani- 
mously that  we  are  one  congregation.'^  "A  motion  was 
made  and  seconded.  That  we  build  a  new  house  in  place 
of  the  Old  and  Stone  Houses.  Carried  in  favor  of  a 
new  house  42  to  26. 

On  motion  it  was  then  decided  to  open  subscription  im- 
mediately to  raise  money  necessary  for  building  a  new 
house.  The  meeting  then  adjourned  to  the  sixteenth  in- 
stant. The  congregation  met  February  i6th,  and  after 
transacting  some  unimportant  business  adjourned  sine  die. 
Jeremiah  Kershaw,  Moderator. 
John  Kee,  Clerk. 

With  this  adjournment  the  matter  was  next  taken  in 
hand  by  the  Trustees,  but  no  further  steps  were  taken  to 
build  one  house  which  would  serve  as  a  place  of  worship 
for  both  the  Old  House  and  the  Stone  House  people. 

A  meeting  of  the  Trustees  of  the  United  First  Presby- 
terian Congregation  convened  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Kug- 
ler,  February  28th,  181 8.  A  majority  of  the  Trustees  be- 
ing present,  it  was  moved  that  the  funds  originating  from 

that  branch  of  the  said  united  congregation,  formerly  wor- 
10 


146  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

shipping  at  the  Old  House,  be  appropriated  for  the  use 
of  that  branch.  And  that  the  funds  originating  from  that 
branch  of  the  said  united  congregation  formerly  worship- 
ing at  the  Stone  House  be  appropriated  for  the  use  of  that 
branch,  to  enable  them  to  build  a  new  house  of  worship 
in  place  of  the  Stone  House,  and  for  supporting  the  Gos- 
pel at  that  place  as  heretofore,  in  union  with  the  Old 
House  people.  On  this  question  the  yeas  and  nays  were 
called,  and  were  as  follows: 

Yeas — George  Dilts,  Jacob  Case  and  William  Fisher. 

Nays — Titus  Quick,  Tunis  Quick  and  Abraham  Prall. 

There  being  a  tie  vote  the  Trustees  adjourned  to  meet 
at  the  same  place  March  the  5th,  for  the  further  consid- 
eration of  the  matter.  On  the  5  th  of  March  they  met  ac- 
cording to  adjournment  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Kugler 
and  adjourned  to  meet  the  next  day  at  the  same  place. 
Though  no  reason  for  this  adjournment  is  stated  the  rec- 
ords show  that  March  the  4th,  notice  was  given  in  writ- 
ing by  Tunis  Quick  and  Abraham  Prall,  to  George  Dilts, 
President  of  the  Trustees  of  the  United  First  Congrega- 
tion, that  they  declined  acting  as  Trustees  of  said  cor- 
poration. 

The  remaining  Trustees  of  the  United  First  Congrega- 
tion of  Amwell,  met  at  the  home  of  Joseph  Kugler,  March 
6th,  agreeable  to  adjournment.  A  majority  being  present, 
to  wit,  George  Dilts,  Jacob  Case,  John  A.  Kendry  and 
William  Fisher,  they  proceeded  to  business. 

"The  motion  which  was  before  them  February  28th, 
1818,  for  appropriating  the  two  funds  of  the  two  branches 
was  called  for  and  considered." 

"When  that  part  of  the  motion"  (so  reads  the  record) 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1776-1820     147 

"for  appropriating  the  funds  originating  from  the  branch 
worshipping  at  the  Old  House  was  taken  up  and  consid- 
ered, and  the  question  put,  shall  said  funds  be  appropri- 
ated? the  vote  stood.  Yeas — none;  Nays — Jacob  Case, 
John  A.  Kendry,  William  Fisher  and  George  Dilts.  Then 
that  part  of  the  motion  appropriating  the  funds  of  the 
Stone  House  was  taken  up  and  considered.  It  was  moved 
to  appropriate  these  funds  to  the  use  of  said  branch,  to 
enable  them  to  build  a  new  house  of  worship,  in  place  of 
the  Stone  House,  and  for  supporting  the  gospel  at  that 
place  as  heretofore,  in  union  with  those  worshipping  at 
the  Old  House. 

Yeas — Jacob  Case,  John  A.  Kendry,  William  Fisher 
and  George  Dilts.     Nays — None. 

Paul  Kuhl  was,  at  this  meeting  of  the  Trustees  ap- 
pointed manager  of  the  funds  in  hand  and  such  money  as 
should  be  raised  by  subscription  and  to  pay  the  sums  ex- 
pended in  building.  At  the  request  of  Tunis  Quick  and 
Abraham  Prall  a  meeting  of  the  United  Congregation  was 
called  to  meet  at  the  Stone  House  March  19th,  1818.  At 
this  meeting  Captain  John  Schenck  was  chosen  Moderator 
and  John  Kee,  Clerk. 

A  motion  was  made  by  Jacob  Young  and  seconded. 
That  this  United  Congregation  dissolve  their  present  con- 
nection in  order  that  each  branch  may  choose  Trustees  for 
itself.     Carried  34  to  6. 

John  Schenck,  Moderator. 
John  Kee,  Clerk. 

April  24th,  1 81 8.  The  Trustees  of  the  First  English 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Amwell  met  at  their  Church  and 
received  from  George  Dilts,  late  president  of  the  First 


148  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

United  Congregation  of  Amwell,  the  sum  of  four  thou- 
sand four  hundred  and  seventy-six  dollars  and  seventv- 
cents,  the  funds  belonging  to  the  said  First  English  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Amwell.  Also  the  books  and  papers 
belonging  thereto  and  receipt  given.  These  funds  and 
books  and  papers  were  taken  by  Titus  Quick,  as  presi- 
dent of  the  Trustees  of  the  First  Church. 

Signed    Titus  Quick,  President. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  our  Church,  here  resumes  its  old 
name,  as  First  Church  of  Amwell,  which  we  now  for 
convenience  write  Amwell  First. 

The  Amwell  Churches  had  been  transferred  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Newton  at  its  organization  in  1817,  in 
which  connection  they  remained  until  1839.  When  the 
separation  took  place  between  Amwell  First,  and  the 
Stone  House  people,  the  latter  assumed  the  corporate  ti- 
tle of  The  United  First  Church  of  Amwell.  This  is 
stated  on  the  authority  of  the  minutes  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Newton.  The  Trustees  of  this  United  First  Church 
went  on  with  their  building  according  to  their  previous 
action. 

The  lot  of  ground  on  which  their  present  Church  build- 
ing was  erected,  was  given  by  Joseph  Kugler.  He  was  al- 
so made  a  member  of  the  building  committee.  So  says 
Rev.  C.  C.  Converse. 

The  whole  board  of  Trustees  as  given  by  Mr.  Con- 
verse was  Nathan  Price,  George  Dilts,  R.  M.  William- 
son, Jere  Kershaw,  Jacob  Dilts,  Joseph  Kugler,  William 
Fisher  and  Paul  Kuhl,  Treasurer.  The  collectors  were 
Joseph  Bishop  and  Elijah  Wilson.  This  Joseph  Kugler 
who  gave  the  lot  and  at  whose  house  the  Trustees  held 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1 776-1 820    149 

frequent  meetings,  was  a  great  uncle  of  mine,  my  father 
Joseph  Kugler  having  been  named  for  him.  He  kept  the 
tavern  at  the  time  at  the  Corner.  And  v^^hile  I  here  re- 
cord his  name  in  connection  w^ith  the  erection  of  the 
Church,  I  w^ould  be  doing  violence  to  my  feelings  were 
I  not  to  add  that  building  a  Church  and  carrying  on  the 
liquor  business  seem  to  me  to  be  directly  opposed  to  each 
other,  and  I  am  thankful  that  society,  as  well  as  the 
Church,  are  now  agreed  in  this  opinion. 

Both  branches  of  the  Old  United  First  endeavored  to 
secure  Dr.  Kirkpatrick's  services  as  pastor.  This  speaks 
more  than  words  to  his  honor.  But  the  United  First 
claimed  that  as  Amwell  First  had  failed  to  make  the  neces- 
sary arrangements  for  his  support  the  succession  belonged 
to  them  by  right.  And  he  accepted  their  call  for  his  ser- 
vices in  connection  with  Amwell  Second,  agreeing  to 
preach  alternately  in  their  respective  Churches.  This 
relation  continued  until  his  death  May  2nd,  1866.  Ac- 
cordingly, Amwell  United  First  made  application  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Newton  held  at  Greenwich  October  6th, 
18 1 8,  to  be  taken  under  their  care  as  a  district  Church, 
and  on  the  next  day  the  call  for  Dr.  Kirkpatrick's  services 
was  presented  to  him  and  accepted.  The  parties  were 
cited  to  appear  at  the  United  First  Church  November  3rd, 

1818,  when  the  pastoral  relation  between  Dr.  Kirkpat- 
rick  and  Amwell  First  was  dissolved.  The  salary  due 
him,  however,  was  not  paid  until  six  months  later,  as  ap- 
pears from  a  receipt  given  by  Dr.  Kirkpatrick  May  ist, 

1 8 19,  as  follows.  Received  of  Titus  Quick,  president  of 
the  Trustees  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Congregation  of 
Amwell,  the  sum  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  dol- 


I50  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

lars  for  six  months  salary,  due  the  ist  of  November,  1818, 
together  with  seven  dollars  eighty-seven  and  a  half  cents, 
being  six  months  interest  on  the  same — $232.87^2. 

J.   KiRKPATRICK. 

This  closes  Dr.  Kirkpatrick's  official  connection  with 
our  Church.  Yet  during  the  long  period  of  his  pastorate 
in  the  neighboring  Churches  he  was  a  frequent  visitor  to 
this  Church,  and  greatly  beloved  by  our  people.  So  close- 
ly are  these  Churches  related  by  location,  ties  of  kindred 
and  intermarriage ;  and  so  winning  was  the  fatherly  kind- 
ness of  Dr.  Kirkpatrick  that  such  mutual  regard  and  es- 
teem were  as  natural  as  they  were  delightful.  A  few 
words  about  Dr.  Kirkpatrick  are  here  in  place  as  an  in- 
tegral part  of  this  history;  but  inasmuch  as  a  memorial 
sermon  and  sketch  of  himself  and  ancestors  have  been 
published,  my  statement  will  be  very  brief. 

Jacob  Kirkpatrick,  son  of  Alexander  Kirkpatrick  and 
Sarah  Carle,  his  wife,  was  born  August  8th,  1785.  His 
birthplace  was  in  the  Valley  of  the  Passaic,  about  six  miles 
southeast  of  Basking  Ridge,  Somerset  Co.,  N.  J.  His 
grandfather,  David,  son  of  Alexander  Kirkpatrick,  was 
born  at  Watties  Dumfries  Shore,  Scotland,  February 
17th,  1724,  and  died  at  Mine  Brook,  Somerset  Co.  This 
great  grandfather,  Alexander,  moved  with  his  family  from 
Scotland  to  Belfast,  Ireland,  after  the  birth  of  his  son, 
David,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  reign  of  George  I,  proba- 
bly about  the  year  1725   (Kirkpatrick  memorial). 

In  the  year,  1799,  Jacob  Kirkpatrick  and  Samuel  L. 
Southard  commenced  the  study  of  Latin  in  the  School  of 
Robert  Finley,  then  pastor  of  the  Church  at  Basking 
Ridge.     They  were  soon  joined  in  their  class  by  Philip 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1 776-1 820     151 

Lindsley  and  Theodore  Frelinghuysen.  These  four  con- 
stituted the  first  class  in  the  Academy.  They  entered  the 
Junior  Class  in  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1802.  The 
president  of  the  college  at  this  time  was  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Stanhope  Smith,  D.  D.,  LL.D..  John  Maclean,  M.  D., 
was  Vice-President.  Besides  these,  there  were  only  two 
tutors.  The  College  had  been  burned  the  previous  spring, 
and  rebuilt  during  the  summer.  The  walls  were  not  yet 
sufficiently  dry  for  occupancy  when  they  entered  and  the 
students  were  obliged  to  room  for  a  time  with  private 
families  in  the  town.  The  class  graduated  in  1804.  On 
graduation  young  Kirkpatrick  entered  his  name  as  a  stu- 
dent of  law  in  the  office  of  George  C.  Maxwell,  Esq.,  of 
Flemington,  at  the  same  time  teaching  in  the  Academy  at 
Somerville,  N.  J. 

In  the  year  1807  he  visited  his  home  at  Basking  Ridge. 
There  was  a  revival  of  religion  in  the  Church  at  the  time 
his  former  preceptor,  Dr.  Findley  still  being  the  pastor. 
Under  the  influence  of  this  awakening  and  the  influences 
of  the  Spirit,  young  Kirkpatrick's  views  and  feelings  be- 
came so  changed,  on  the  subject  of  religion,  and  his  own 
duty,  that  he  relinquished  the  study  of  law  which  he  had 
pursued  for  three  years  and  devoted  himself  to  the  work 
of  the  Gospel  ministry.  This  was  certainly  no  easy  task 
to  a  man  with  Kirkpatrick's  gifts  from  the  temporal  view 
of  the  subject.  But  he  heard  the  call  of  the  Master,  and 
he  obeyed.  In  order  to  prepare  himself  for  the  ministry 
he  went  to  Freehold  and  became  a  student  of  Theology 
under  Rev.  John  Woodhull,  D.  D.  He  remained  here 
for  two  years.  On  the  13  th  of  December,  1909,  he  was 
united  in  holy  wedlock  with  Mary  Sutfin  with  whose 


152  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

father  John  Sutfin,  who  resided  near  the  Old  Tenant 
Church,  he  took  lodgings,  while  pursuing  his  studies  for 
the  ministry.  This  united  couple  were  blessed  with  a 
large  family  of  children,  and  they  were  spared  to  each 
other  to  celebrate  their  golden  wedding  and  to  look  into 
the  years  beyond.  The  licensure  of  Mr.  Kirkpatrick  and 
the  steps  which  led  to  his  settlement  over  the  Amwell 
Churches,  have  already  been  stated. 

How  this  venerable  man  of  God,  like  Paul,  was  in  la- 
bors more  abundant  during  his  long  pastorate  of  nearly 
fifty-six  years,  is  known  throughout  the  Church.  During 
this  period,  extending  from  1810  to  the  time  of  his  death 
May  2nd,  1866,  he  preached  more  than  10,000  times,  at- 
tended 900  funerals  and  married  705  couples.  When  he 
came  to  this  charge,  he  informs  us  in  his  semi-centennial 
discourse,  there  were  but  94  communicants  in  the  whole 
charge.  He  also  remarks  that  the  first  five  years  of  his 
ministry  appeared  to  produce  but  little  fruit.  During  the 
first  year  the  cloud  seemed  to  be  gathering  over  our  politi- 
cal horizon,  which  burst  upon  us  "in  the  declaration  of 
War  with  Great  Britain  in  18 12."  The  public  mind  was 
absorbed  with  the  events  of  the  day  up  to  the  Treaty  of 
Peace  at  Ghent  in  18 15.  During  this  period  the  public 
ear  was  open  to  news  of  Perry's  victory  on  the  Lake,  or 
the  saying  of  Lawrence  "Don't  give  up  the  ship,"  in  the 
attack  on  Baltimore  or  the  "Burning  of  the  Capitol  at 
Washington."  This  state  of  things  was  followed  with  the 
period  of  revivals  and  the  large  and  rapid  increase  in  the 
membership  of  the  Churches,  receiving  forty,  sixty  and 
over  a  hundred  in  a  single  year.  In  all,  there  were  ten 
seasons  of  refreshing  during  his  long  and  honored  pastor- 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1776-1820    153 

ate.  Statistics  furnished  by  Rev.  William  J.  Wright, 
pastor  of  Amwell  United  First,  and  Rev.  John  Burrows, 
pastor  of  Amwell  Second  at  the  time  of  the  publication 
of  the  memorial  volume,  show  that  six  hundred  and  twen- 
ty-one were  received  Into  these  Churches  on  profession 
during  his  ministry. 

It  will  be  interesting  to  follow  these  numbers  with 
statistics  covering  nearly  the  entire  period  of  Dr.  Klrkpat- 
rlck's  connection  with  our  Church. 

I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Armstrong,  stated  clerk  of  the 
Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  for  these  statistics,  and  it 
will  be  remembered  they  embrace  the  whole  charge.  They 
are  as  follows: 

181 1.  Total  communicants  at  last  report II2 

Died  2,  added   15,  total  now 125 

Adults  baptized  9,  Infants  16. 

1812.  Died   I,  removed   i,  added   ii,  total 134 

Adults  baptized  3,  infants  13. 

1 813.  Died  4,  removed  2,  added   i,  total 129 

Infants  baptized  13. 

1 8 14.  No  report. 

1815.  Died   I,  added  4,   total 132 

Adults  baptized  3,  infants  10. 

1816.  Died   3,   removed   2,   added  6,   total 133 

Adults  baptized  3,  Infants  11. 

18 1 7.  Which  was  the  last  report  to  the  Presby- 

tery  of    New    Brunswick — Removed    i, 

added  5,  total    137 

Infants  baptized  9. 
This  gives  us  the  Interesting  statement  that  in  six  years 
72  infants  were  baptized,  while  in  the  whole  charge  only 


154  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

42  members  were  added  both  by  certificate  and  on  profes- 
sion, which  is  three  less  than  were  added  in  this  single 
Church  with  its  greatly  limited  territory  and  numbers, 
during  the  first  six  years  of  my  pastorate  here,  while  wc 
received  in  addition  thirty-two  by  certificate.  But  soon 
after  this  the  blessing  came  under  Dr.  Kirkpatrick's  pas- 
torate in  precious  fulness,  which  through  ten  seasons  of 
revival  resulted  in  the  ingathering  of  six  hundred  and 
twenty-one  (621)  for  the  whole  pastorate.  In  addition 
to  the  abundant  labors  of  Dr.  Kirkpatrick  in  his  extended 
charge,  he  rendered  most  valued  assistance  to  a  large  num- 
ber of  Churches  and  clergymen  in  different  parts  of  the 
State,  and  also  in  Pennsylvania  and  New  York.  He  was 
always  a  welcome  preacher  in  these  Churches,  and  con- 
tributed in  this  way  largely  to  their  growth.  He  was  also 
an  ardent  friend  and  able  advocate  of  the  cause  of  Tem- 
perance. I  remember  him  both  as  an  evangelist,  and  as  a 
lecturer  on  Temperance  in  the  days  of  my  boyhood  in  the 
old  Kingwood  Church.  At  these  services  his  earnest 
pathos  and  tearful  pleading  made  impressions  that  are 
lasting  and  beneficent. 

Dr.  Kirkpatrick  was  likewise  largely  instrumental  in 
the  organization  of  the  Hunterdon  Co.  Bible  Society,  and 
always  until  his  death,  deeply  interested  and  active  mem- 
ber of  the  same. 

This  Society  was  organized  October  i6th,  1816,  at 
the  Old  Stone  Church  of  Amwell,  then  under  his  pastoral 
care.  At  its  organization  General  John  Beatty,  of  Tren- 
ton, a  descendant,  if  not  a  member  of  this  Church  (Am- 
well First)  being  a  son  of  Rev.  Charles  Beatty,  and 
grandson  of  Gov.  Reading,  was  made  temporary  chair- 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1 776-1 820     155 

man.  Hon.  Samuel  L.  Southard  was  chosen  President. 
General  John  Beatty,  First  Vice  President.  Dr.  Jacob 
Kirkpatrick,  Second  Vice-President.  Rev.  J.  F.  Clark, 
our  next  pastor,  Third  Vice-President.  Rev.  Joseph 
Boggs,  Fourth  Vice-President.  Peter  I.  Clark,  Corres- 
ponding Secretary.  Joseph  Bishop,  Recording  Secretary, 
and  John  Q.  Blackwell,  Treasurer. 

Perhaps  no  work  in  which  Dr.  Kirkpatrick  ever  en- 
gaged, will,  in  the  end,  prove  to  be  so  grand  and  far- 
reaching  for  the  saving  of  men,  as  the  part  he  took  in 
connection  with  the  Bible  Society.  But  his  labors  are 
ended  and  he  has  long  been  at  rest  and  his  works  do  fol- 
low him. 

Let  us  pause  a  moment  by  the  grave  of  this  venerable 
man.  I  think  the  sublimest  act  of  his  life,  was,  when, 
having  nearly  completed  his  studies  for  the  practice  of  the 
law,  in  which  honor  and  wealth  awaited  him,  he  turned 
aside,  at  the  call  of  the  Master,  and  gave  himself  to  the 
Gospel  ministry.  Here  equal  if  not  more  intense  toil  and 
hardship  confronted  him,  with  poverty,  instead  of  riches 
as  the  sure  result,  although  the  honor  that  is  his,  could 
not  have  been  greater  in  any  other  calling.  But  when 
once  convinced  that  he  was  called  to  this  service,  he  yield- 
ed himself  with  joyful  obedience  to  preach  the  everlasting 
Gospel  of  Christ. 

In  this  work  he  was  faithful  to  the  end.  The  burden 
of  his  soul  was  to  persuade  men  to  believe  in  Jesus  Christ. 
To  this  he  gave  his  time  and  his  strength,  and  for  this  he 
used  all  the  powers  of  his  being.  He  preached  to  the  con- 
science of  his  hearers.  He  pressed  upon  them  the  require- 
ments of  the  law.    He  held  up  before  them  the  matchless 


156  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

love  of  our  gracious  Saviour.  He  yearned  for  their  sal- 
vation and  would  plead  with  sinners  with  the  truest, 
tenderest  emotion.     When  they  yielded,  he  was  happy. 

This  was  his  joy  and  crown  of  rejoicing.  I  requested 
Dr.  Samuel  M.  Osmond  for  many  years  a  colleague,  to 
give  me  his  impressions  of  Dr.  Kirkpatrick  as  a  man,  and 
a  preacher  of  the  Gospel.  He  wrote  me,  "It  is  now  more 
than  forty  years  since  I  was  the  colleague  of  Dr.  Kirk- 
patrick. You  will  see  in  the  Memorial  Volume,  pp.  65- 
71,  my  views  and  impressions  of  him  as  they  were  penned 
many  years  ago.  I  can  now  only  say  that  these  impres- 
sions remain  unchanged,  unless  it  be  that  the  favorable  es- 
timate which  I  then  sought  to  convey  has  been  more  and 
more  confirmed  and  intensified  with  my  wider  experience 
and  my  observation  of  other  men,  ministers  especially, 
with  whom  I  have  had  occasion  to  compare  him  or  invol- 
untarily to  measure  his  rare  excellence,  goodness,  purity 
of  life,  devotedness  to  his  work,  generosity,  and  nobility 
of  character."  I  am  confident  that  this  estimate  of  the 
blessed  man  of  God  who  gave  his  long  life  to  the  service 
of  his  Redeemer  and  ours,  in  these  Amwell  Churches, 
will  receive  from  all  who  knew  him  and  especially  from 
those  who  listened  to  his  earnest  and  tender  appeals,  a 
very  hearty  concurrence.  Servant  of  God,  Well  done.  We 
loved  thee  when  living,  and  we  love  thy  memory  still. 

A  list  of  the  supporters  of  Mr.  Kirkpatrick  at  the 
commencement  of  his  pastorate  over  this  United  Con- 
gregation is  here  given.  It  is  headed:  Half  year  salary 
due  May  ist,  18 10: 

William  Bellis,  Sen.,  Cornelius  Wyckoff, 

Jacob  Sutfin,  Sen.,  Jonathan  Hill, 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1 776-1820     157 


John  Finley, 

Sally  Schenck, 

Jacob  Young, 

Wid.  Wm.  Mary  Schenck, 

Isaiah  Stout, 

Garret  Schenck, 

Richard  Williamson, 

John  Smith, 

Peter  Dilts, 

Andrew  Bearder, 

Henry  Young, 

John  P.  Young, 

Abraham  Williamson, 

Jacob  Kershaw, 

Jacob  J.  Johnson, 

William  Young  Weaver, 

Isaac  Hill, 

Isaac  Prall, 

Enos  Lanning, 

Jeremiah  Kershaw, 

Tunis  Quick,  Jr., 

Paul  Kuhl,  Sen., 

John  Schenck,  Captn. 

Leonard  Cool, 

Jacob  Sedam, 

George  Dilts, 

Jacob  Dilts, 

Widow  John  R.  Schenck, 

Peter  Risler,  Esq., 

Leonard  Cool,  Sen., 

Ralph  G.  Schenck, 


Dr.  John  Brown, 

James  Rowlin  (Rowland?) 

Daniel    Carrol, 

Abraham  R.  Sutfin, 

Henry  Williamson, 

Christopher  Kuhl, 

Peter  Young,   Sen., 

Jacob  Case,  Esq., 

William  P.  Young, 

William  W.  Young, 

Jonathan  Hoagland, 

Mathias  Housel, 

Peter  Prall, 

John  P.  Quick, 

Jacob  Case^ 

Polly  Van  Hise, 

Jacob  Fisher, 

Abraham  Prall, 

Nathaniel    Wilson, 

Joseph  Higgins, 

Abraham  Gulick, 

William  Prall, 

John  Skillman, 

John  Young, 

John  Key, 

Derrick  D.  Sutfin, 

Morcah   Probasco, 

David  Bishop, 

Titus  Quick, 

Doctor  Craven, 

Joseph  Craven, 


158             AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Jacob  Schenck,  Isaac  Taylor, 

William  G.  Schenck,  Nathan  Price, 

William  Fisher,  Tunis  Quick,  Sen. 

Jacob  Young,  Sen., 

Jacob  J.  A.  Young,  Collectors — 

John  J.  A.  Young,  George  Dilt's  list.  $38.69 

Lewis  Chamberlin,  Jacob  Case's       "       38.28 

Widow  Rebecca  Schenck,         Wm.  Fisher's     "       30.71 

Peter  H.  Young,  


Paul  Kuhl,  Jr.,  $107.68 

The  subscriptions  in  the  above  run  very  low,  caused 
doubtless  in  part  by  the  large  amount  of  funds  held  by 
the  Church.  These  are  Semi-annual  subscriptions.  The 
largest  one  is  by  David  Bishop  $3.00.  The  smallest  is 
.33  of  which  there  are  several.  Prevailing  amount  runs 
from  $1.17  to  $1.75  with  five  above  $2.00  besides  David 
Bishop's.    There  are  80  in  all. 

To  complete  the  list  as  time  went  on,  November,  18 10, 
add  John  Kee  and  Jeremiah  Geary.  In  1812,  Amos 
Hartley;  November,  1812,  Widow  of  Nathaniel  Wilson; 
1 8 13,  James  Sutphin,  Polly  Williamson  and  Elizabeth 
Young.  Collectors  for  18 13  were  Captain  John  Schenck, 
salary  $3.13,  also  David  Schenck,  Titus  Quick.  1814 
collectors,  Jacob  Case,  George  Dilts,  William  Fisher  and 
add  Widow  Henry  Williamson.  181 5,  we  have  Dr. 
John  Kendry.  November,  181 5,  is  the  last  time  the 
Church  has  the  subscription  of  David  Bishop.  February 
5th,  1816,  Trustees  met  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Kugler 
and  settled  with  the  executors  of  David  Bishop,  deceased, 
late  President,  and  received  all  the  books  belonging  to  the 


INTERMEDIATE  PERIOD— 1 776-1820     159 

First  United  Congregations  of  Amwell,  and  also  received 
from  the  executors  $1,424.25,  being  the  balance  due  said 
United  Congregation  (Old  Book,  p.  73). 


PERIOD  III, 
The  Modern  Period,  i 820-1 900. 


u 


PERIOD  III. 

THE   SEVENTH    PASTOR,   THE   REV.   JOHN    FLAVEL   CLARK, 

1820— 1836. 

As  stated  heretofore  at  a  meeting  of  the  United  First 
Church  March  19th,  1818,  at  the  Stone  House,  it  was 
decided  to  dissolve  the  connection  existing  between  the 
German  Church  and  the  First  Church,  in  order  that 
each  branch  might  elect  Trustees  for  itself.  We  have  no 
record  of  the  trustees  chosen,  as  the  result  of  this  motion. 
It  is  only  stated  that  the  Trustees  of  the  First  English 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Amwell  met  at  their  meeting 
house  April  24th,  181 8,  and  that  Titus  Quick,  President 
of  the  Trustees,  received  from  George  Dilts,  late  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  Church,  the  money  and  books  belong- 
ing to  the  First  Church.  Also  that  John  P.  Quick, 
Thomas  Wilson  and  Tunis  Quick  were  collectors  of  the 
salary  to  pay  Mr.  Kirkpatrick,  who  continued  to  serve 
the  First  Church  as  pastor,  as  heretofore  until  November. 
This  implies  that  these  three  persons,  together  with  Titus 
Quick,  were  four  of  said  Trustees. 

The  congregation  of  the  First  Church  met  October 
1 2th,  1818,  with  Jacob  Young  as  President  and  John  Kee 
as  Clerk,  in  order  to  make  arrangements  to  meet  the 
Presbytery  of  Newton  in  conformity  with  their  citation. 
The  meeting  then  adjourned  to  meet  October  26th.  The 
following  commissioners  were  then  appointed  to  attend 
the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Newton  the  first  Tues- 
day of  November  next,  viz. :  Tunis  Quick,  Enos  Lanning, 
Abraham   R.   Sutphin,  Jacob  J.  Young  and  John  Kee. 


i64  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

The  commissioners  were  instructed  to  use  their  endeavors 
to  perpetuate  the  connection  with  the  Second  Church  of 
Amwell  in  support  of  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  This  was 
an  adjourned  meeting  of  Presbytery  and  was  held  No- 
vember 3d  at  what  was  then  the  United  First  Church, 
which  was  the  corporate  title  assumed  by  that  Church 
after  it  severed  its  connection  with  Amwell  First.  As 
you  know,  the  effort  to  continue  the  connection  with  the 
Second  Church  for  the  support  of  a  pastor  did  not  suc- 
ceed. Amwell  First  was  thus  left  alone  and  w^ithout  a 
pastor. 

A  meeting  of  the  congregation  was  held  at  the  Church 
November  19th,  1818,  to  decide  upon  their  future  course, 
and  another  meeting  the  8th  of  December.  It  was  de- 
cided that  the  pews  should  be  free  until  May  next,  and 
that  the  money  to  pay  the  supplies  should  be  raised  by 
subscription. 

Zaccur  Prall  and  Garret  Schenck  were  appointed  col- 
lectors, from  which  it  may  be  inferred  that  they  also  were 
Trustees.  The  church  remained  without  a  pastor  until 
1820,  being  served  in  the  meantime  by  supplies. 

We  have  the  list  of  subscribers  to  this  fund  for  supplies, 
which  is  especially  interesting  as  showing  who  adhered 
to  the  church  after  the  separation. 

The  first  on  the  list  is  Captain  John  Schenck,  which 
gives  us  the  right  to  claim  this  revolutionary  hero  as  be- 
longing to  our  church.  His  remains,  as  you  know,  rest 
in  our  cemetery.  He  was  one  of  the  largest  contributors 
to  this  fund  to  pay  the  supplies  for  the  next  six  months. 
His  subscription  was  $3  for  six  months,  only  three  others, 
viz.,  Peter  Prall,  Derrick  Sutphin  and  Titus  Quick,  giv- 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900       165 

ing  as  much.  It  must  be  remembered  that  only  a  small 
amount  was  required  for  this  purpose. 

The  whole  list  is  as  follows: 

Captain  John  Schenck,  Jonathan  Hoagland,  Abraham 
Williamson,  Lucretia  Williamson,  Jacob  J.  Young,  Wil- 
liam Hortman,  William  Young,  Sen.,  Richard  Sked, 
Peter  Snook,  William  Fisher,  Joseph  Sutphin,  Ralph 
Young,  Benjamin  Young,  Mary  Young,  Uriel  Phillips, 
John  W.  Young,  John  Campbell,  Henry  Young,  Sen., 
William  P.  Young,  Jacob  J.  Quick,  Abraham  Servis, 
John  P.  Young,  John  R.  Wilson,  Wm.  Williamson, 
Jacob  Schenck,  Major  Wm.  G.  Schenck,  William  Prall, 
David  Rickoff,  Peter  Prall,  Peter  Prall,  Jr.,  Garret  J. 
Quick,  Abm.  Prall,  Peter  P.  Quick,  Arthur  Sutphin, 
Derrick  Sutphin,  David  Manners,  Derrick  Sutphin,  Jr., 
Henry  Young,  Jr.,  Ruben  Runyon,  Garret  J.  Schenck, 
Jacob  J.  Young,  Peter  P.  Young,  John  J.  Young,  Titus 
Quick,  Tunis  Quick,  Benjamin  Johnson,  Abraham  Gu- 
lick,  Aaron  Prall,  Robert  Stout,  Abraham  Sutphin,  Jacob 
Wilson,  Catherine  Stout,  Isaac  Prall,  Garret  William- 
son, John  P.  Quick,  Gideon  Quick,  Mary  Schenck,  John 
Kee,  Isaac  Taylor,  John  Blackwell,  Thomas  Prall,  An- 
drew Blackwell,  Mary  Wilson,  James  S.  Sutphin,  Zaccur 
Prall,  Joel  Wolverton,  David  Bellis,  Isaac  Houshel, 
William  W.  Schenck,  Johnathan  H.  Covenhoven, 
Thomas  Wilson,  Rebecca  Schenck,  Elizabeth  Brooks, 
Mary  Hoagland,  Rebecca  Hoagland,  Enos  Lanning, 
Lewis  Labaw.  In  all  seventy-seven  subscribers.  (From 
minutes  congregation,  pages  99  and   100). 

The  clergymen  who  supplied  the  pulpit  during  the 
two  years  in  which  the  church  was  without  a  pastor  were 


i66  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Revs.  Garner  Hunt,  George  W.  Gale,  John  F.  Clark, 
L.  F.  Leake,  John  Boyd,  Jacob  Kirkpatrick,  Aaron  Babbit, 
James  S.  Woods,  Benjamin  J.  Lowe,  John  H.  Smaltz, 
Cyrus  Gildersleeve,  Enoch  Burt,  David  Bishop,  William 
Sloan,  Joseph  Campbell  and  Horace  Galpin. 

The  Rev.  Joseph  Campbell  w^as  at  the  time  pastor  at 
Hackettstow^n.  From  1838  to  1840  he  vi^as  pastor  of  the 
Milford  and  Kingwood  Presbyterian  churches.  At  this 
time  I  attended  on  his  ministry  with  my  parents,  and  at 
his  hands  received  the  rite  of  baptism.  He  married,  for 
his  second  wife,  a  Mrs.  Chamberlain,  of  Flemington, 
formerly  a  Miss  Sutphin,  whose  kindred  are  with  us  at 
this  day.  The  sum  paid  the  supplies  was  sometimes  six 
and  sometimes  eight  dollars  for  the  Sabbath  service. 

There  was  a  meeting  of  the  congregation  held  August 
1 6th,  1 8 19,  when  Jacob  J.  Young  was  chosen  Moderator, 
and  Thomas  Wilson  Clerk.  The  object  of  this  meeting 
was  to  consider  the  propriety  of  uniting  with  the  Re- 
formed Church  of  Neshanic  and  together  becoming  one 
pastoral  charge.  The  movement  was  discussed  with  in- 
terest and  a  decided  disposition  for  the  union  was  mani- 
fested. A  committee  of  conference  was  appointed  to 
meet  a  similar  committee  from  the  Neshanic  church. 
These  committees  were,  from  Amwell,  Titus  Quick, 
John  Schenck  and  Jacob  J.  Young;  from  Neshanic,  It 
was  Henry  H.  Schenck,  John  Wyckof?,  Jr.,  and  Nicholas 
Williamson.  The  committees  met  at  Cookstown,  August 
1 8th,  1 8 19,  when  John  Schenck  was  chosen  chairman  and 
Nicholas  Williamson  clerk.  The  following  propositions 
were  submitted  by  the  Neshanic  committee,  viz.:  ist. 
That  Amwell  should  come  under  the  Classis  of  Phlladel- 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      167 

phia;  2d.  Call  the  Rev.  Mr.  Smaltz,  who  was  then  the 
pastor  of  the  Neshanic  church;  3d.  The  Neshanic  church 
should  take  one-third  of  Mr.  Smaltz's  service  and  pay 
one-third  of  the  salary.  The  committee  of  Amwell 
agreed  to  these  propositions.  The  last  one  shows  the 
relative  strength  of  the  two  churches  at  that  time. 

A  meeting  of  the  First  English  Presbyterian  congrega- 
tion was  called  at  the  church  the  first  of  September,  18 19, 
for  the  purpose  of  receiving  the  report  of  their  committee. 
Enos  Lanning  was  chosen  Moderator  and  Thomas  Wil- 
son, Clerk.  A  motion  was  made  and  seconded  to  take 
the  sense  of  the  congregation  on  the  first  proposition  made 
by  the  committee  from  the  Neshanic  church,  viz.:  "Shall 
Amwell  come  under  the  Classis  of  Philadelphia?"  Car- 
ried in  the  negative.  This  action  brought  to  a  close  the 
effort  for  a  union  with  this  neighboring  church.  And 
with  all  the  good  feelings  toward  this  neighborly  sister 
then  and  now  the  action  of  our  church  in  the  matter 
shows  that  attachment  to  the  old  Presbyterian  name  and 
the  old  ways  was  stronger  than  to  a  few  dollars  that 
would  have  been  saved  in  salary  by  forming  the  union. 
And  it  is  fair  to  infer  if  this  crucial  proposition  had  been 
submitted  to  the  Neshanic  people,  asking  them  to  change 
their  name  and  ecclesiastical  relation,  the  same  negative 
vote  would  have  been  given. 

The  decision  by  the  Amwell  First  Church  was  the 
more  significant  of  a  firm  attachment  to  the  church  of 
their  fathers,  because,  since  the  recent  separation  from  the 
other  Amwell  churches  they  evidently  felt  themselves  un- 
equal to  the  support  of  a  pastor  alone.  Happily  for  the 
church  at  this  crisis  Providence  had  ready  at  hand  relief 


i68  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

for  them  in  this  hour  of  need.  Only  a  few  days  after  the 
above  action  had  taken  place  the  following  communica- 
tion was  received  from  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Flem- 
ington : 

"To  the  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  First 
English   Presbyterian   Church  in  Amwell: 

"Gentlemen — At  a  large  meeting  of  the  pew  holders 
of  the  Flemington  Presbyterian  congregation  at  their 
meeting  house  on  Sunday,  December  4th,  18 19,  it  was 
unanimously  resolved  that  a  committee  be  appointed  from 
their  body  to  confer  with  a  committee  that  may  be  ap- 
pointed from  your  body,  in  relation  to  a  union  of  the 
two  congregations  under  one  pastor;  and  that  Isaac  Hill, 
Sen.,  Christopher  Cool,  Andrew  Van  Fleet,  Cornelius 
Wyckoff  and  William  Williamson  be  the  committee  for 
this  congregation. 

"This  committee  are  entrusted  with  full  and  ample 
powers  to  negotiate  for  us  in  this  transaction,  and  any 
assurances  that  they  may  give  in  writing,  or  any  agree- 
ments or  arrangements  that  they  may  make  as  our  repre- 
sentatives, are  to  be  considered  as  binding  and  obligatory 
upon  us. 

"On  motion  it  was  further  resolved  that  the  President 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees  *  *  *  do  immediately  com- 
municate to  the  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of 
your  congregation.  *  *  *  I  would  beg  leave  to  re- 
quest, agreeably  to  a  suggestion  made  at  their  meeting, 
that  you  would  communicate  to  our  Board  what  steps  you 
may  take  *  *  *  fn  ^he  appointment  of  a  committee 
from  your  congregation ;  of  whom  it  may  consist,  the  time 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      169 

and  place  that  would  be  most  convenient  to  them  to  meet 
the  committee  of  this  congregation. 

"As  a  representative  of  the  voice  of  this  church,  I  can- 
not forbear  to  remark  that  a  sincere  regard  to  the  inter- 
ests of  the  Gospel,  and  the  good  of  society  in  this  part  of 
the  county  induces  us  to  hope  that  the  disposition  and 
measures  of  this  church  will  be  reciprocated  on  your  part. 
The  event  is  with  Him  in  whose  hands  are  the  hearts  of 
all  men,  and  who  will  do  good  to  his  church  as  shall  seem 
best  to  his  infinite  wisdom,  that  both  this  church  and 
yours,  whether  separated  or  united,  may  be  blessed  with 
the  smiles  of  an  overruling  Providence  is  the  sincere 
wish  of 

"Your  friend   and  servant, 

"David  P.  Shrope,  President." 

The  cordiality  and  spirituality  of  the  above  communi- 
cation are  so  marked  that  I  have  considered  it  worthy  of 
being  copied  almost  entire  as  an  interesting  part  of  this 
history.  To  this  communication  the  following  response 
was  sent: 

"December  20th,  18 19. 
"Sir — We  have  had  a  meeting  of  the  congregation,  at 
the  old  Meeting  House,  and  agreed  to  appoint  a  commit- 
tee to  meet  yours  at  your  request  on  the  third  day  of  Jan- 
uary next,  at  the  house  of  Isaac  Hill.  The  following  is 
the  committee  appointed  by  the  Amwell  First  Church: 
Derrick  Sutphin,  Titus  Quick,  Enos  Lanning,  Jacob  J. 
Young  and  James  Sutphin. 

"Titus  Quick,  President." 


170  AM  WELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Following  the  conference  of  these  committees,  a  meet- 
ing of  the  Amwell  congregation  was  held  at  the  church, 
April  1st,  1820,  at  which  Tunis  T.  Quick  was  chosen 
Moderator  and  John  Kee,  Clerk.  At  this  meeting  it  was 
decided  to  join  with  the  Flemington  congregation  in  sup- 
porting the  gospel.  The  Rev.  John  Flavel  Clark  was  at 
this  time  pastor  of  the  church  at  Flemington,  which  office 
he  had  held  since  June,  18 15. 

The  Amwell  congregation  also  agreed  at  this  meeting 
to  make  out  a  call  for  half  the  services  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Clark.  This  action  was  modified  at  a  meeting  of  the 
congregation  held  at  the  church  April  29th,  1820,  when 
it  was  moved  and  unanimously  carried  to  have  Rev.  Mr. 
Clark  for  a  supply  for  three  years.  It  was  also  agreed  to 
pay  Mr.  Clark  three  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  for 
his  services,  in  half  yearly  payments.  At  this  meeting 
Titus  Quick  was  Moderator  and  George  Wilson,  Clerk. 
The  congregation  again  met  at  the  church  July  ist,  1820, 
with  Tunis  T.  Quick  Moderator  and  John  Kee  Clerk, 
when  nominations  were  made  of  persons  to  be  chosen  as 
Trustees.  Also  the  following  committee  was  appointed 
to  confer  with  the  Flemington  congregation  about  getting 
a  minister,  viz. :  Titus  Quick,  Jacob  J.  Young  and  Enos 
Lanning.  The  meeting  then  adjourned  to  meet  August 
1 2th,  when  the  following  persons  were  chosen  Trustees, 
viz. :  Titus  Quick,  Jacob  J.  Young,  William  W.  Schenck, 
Aaron  Prall,  John  P.  Quick,  Abraham  Sutphin  and  Peter 
P.  Quick. 

The  congregation  met  September  27th,  1820,  to  receive 
the  report  of  the  committee  appointed  to  confer  with  the 
Flemington  committee  relative  to  the  union  of  the  two 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1S20- 1900      171 

congregations  and  securing  the  services  for  half  of  Mr. 
Clark's  time.  The  Flemington  people  had  modified  the 
offer  of  the  Amwell  congregation  by  proposing  that  each 
congregation  should  pay  Mr.  Clark  $350.  This  was  not 
approved  by  the  Amwell  people  and  the  committee  was 
again  instructed  to  confer  with  the  Flemington  committee 
relative  to  a  union  of  the  two  congregations,  and  for  se- 
curing the  services  for  half  the  time  of  Rev.  Mr.  Clark. 
As  a  result  of  the  conference  it  was  agreed  at  a  meeting, 
date  not  given,  to  make  a  call  for  one-half  of  Mr.  Clark's 
time,  and  for  this  service  each  congregation  was  to  pay 
him  $325  annually,  and  that  this  arrangement  was  to 
continue  for  three  years.  You  will  notice  that  the  union 
was  finally  consummated  substantially  on  the  terms  of- 
fered by  the  Amwell  people  April  29th.  At  these  several 
meetings  Tunis  T.  Quick  was  Moderator  and  John  Kee 
Clerk. 

'  At  a  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Newton,  in  New 
York,  October  17th,  1820,  a  written  application  was  re- 
ceived from  the  First  Presbyterian  congregation  of  Am- 
well requesting  that  the  Rev.  John  F.  Clark  be  appointed 
a  supply  in  said  congregation  for  one-half  his  time,  for 
three  years.  Presbytery  having  satisfactory  evidence  that 
such  an  arrangement  would  meet  the  wishes  of  the  people 
of  Flemington,  and  Mr.  Clark  consenting,  he  was  ap- 
pointed a  supply  to  Amwell,  as  requested. 

Dr.  Mott  gives  some  interesting  facts  on  the  State  of 
the  country,  which  led  the  Flemington  people  to  propose 
the  union  of  the  two  congregations,  the  influence  of 
which  were  doubtless  as  weighty  with  the  Amwell  people 
as  with  those  of  Flemington.     "The  church  had  enjoyed 


172  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

the  exclusive  services  of  Mr.  Clark  until  1820.  But  the 
last  four  years  had  been  a  season  of  financial  depression. 
The  whole  country  w^as  very  poor.  Money  was  scarce. 
In  the  summer  of  18 16  there  were  frost  and  ice  every 
month.  Nearly  all  the  crops  failed.  An  extensive  emi- 
gration to  Ohio  was  the  consequence.  Farmers  in  this 
region  had  little  to  sell;  and  their  produce  was  carried 
a  long  distance,  and  then  the  price  obtained  was  small. 
More  and  more  the  congregation  felt  its  inability  to  con- 
tinue the  whole  support  of  Mr.  Clark.  Arrearages  now 
amounted  to  $580 — more  than  a  year's  salary.  So 
thoughts  were  turned  toward  a  union  with  the  old  Am- 
well  Church."  And  this  church  not  having  been  alone  in 
the  support  of  a  pastor  since  1754,  with  the  same  con- 
ditions in  the  country,  made  our  people  feel  the  like  need 
of  union  for  the  support  of  the  gospel.  Doubtless  this 
common  experience  made  them  patient  with  each  other 
during  the  numerous  conferences  held,  and  led  each  party 
to  surrender  enough  of  their  own  preferences  to  impart 
strength  and  harmony  to  the  union  secured. 

At  the  same  congregational  meeting  (minute  not  dated) 
at  which  the  Amwell  people  recognize  the  consummation 
of  the  union,  it  was  decided  to  appropriate  one  hundred 
and  sixty-two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  of  the  interest  money 
from  the  funds  of  the  church  towards  raising  the  three 
hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  which  they  agreed  to  pay 
the  Rev.  John  F.  Clark  for  one-half  his  ministerial  ser- 
vices, and  the  remainder  to  be  raised  by  subscription. 

A  congregational  meeting  was  held  September  6th, 
1823,  with  Titus  Quick  as  Moderator,  and  John  Kee, 
Clerk.     It  was  decided  at  this  meeting  to  renew  the  call 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      173 

to  Mr.  Clark  for  three  years,  with  the  same  salary  as 
before^.  At  the  same  time  a  committee,  consisting  of  John 
P.  Quick,  Aaron  Prall  and  Abraham  P.  Sutphin,  was  ap- 
pointed to  consult  with  Mr.  Clark,  and  also  with  the 
Flemington  congregation.  At  the  meeting  of  Presbytery 
at  Hackettstown  October  7,  1823,  a  written  request  was 
received  from  Amwell  congregation  for  the  reappointment 
of  Mr.  Clark  as  Supply  for  three  years  on  the  same  terms 
as  heretofore.  The  Presbytery  being  informed  that  the 
pecuniary  difficulties  of  the  church  were  such  as  to  render 
it  inexpedient  to  present  a  regular  call,  the  request  was 
granted.  This  shows  how  slow  the  churches  were  to 
learn  the  blessedness  of  giving. 

Presbytery  met  at  Newton,  October  3d,  1826.  At  this 
meeting  calls  in  due  form  were  received^  by  Mr.  Clark 
from  the  congregations  of  Flemington  and  Amwell  First 
Churches  to  become  their  pastor,  giving  one-half  his  time 
at  each  place.  These  calls  being  found  in  order,  were 
put  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Clark,  who  stated  that  he  was 
not  at  that  time  ready  to  accept  them.  At  an  adjourned 
meeting  of  the  Presbytery  held  at  Elizabeth,  October 
1 8th,  1826,  Mr.  Clark  accepted  the  calls  already  in  his 
hands.  Strange  that  for  the  action  of  the  congregation 
making  this  regular  call  we  have  in  our  books  no  record 
whatever.  Our  information  is  derived  from  the  records 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Newton,  through  the  kindness  of 
Rev.  E.  Clark  Cline,  Stated  Clerk  of  that  Presbytery,  to 
whom  we  are  also  indebted  for  the  other  references  to  the 
action  of  that  Presbytery. 

The  calls  being  accepted.  Presbytery  adjourned  to  meet 
at  Amwell  First  Church  on  the  fourth  Tuesday  of  No- 


174  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

vember  next  and  install  Mr.  Clark  pastor  of  the  congre- 
gations of  Amwell  First  Church  and  of  Flemington.  Pres- 
bytery convened  at  Amwell  November  28th,  at  w^hich 
meeting  the  following  members  were  present :  Revs.  Jacob 
Kirkpatrick,  John  F.  Clark,  Jehiel  Talmage,  John  C. 
Vandervoort,  William  Blauvelt,  of  Lamington,  and  Elder 
John  Hageman  from  Amwell  First.  In  this  service  Rev. 
Mr.  Blauvelt  preached  the  sermon,  Rev.  Mr.  Kirkpatrick 
presided,  Rev.  Mr.  Vandervoort  gave  the  charge  to  the 
pastor,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Talmage  gave  the  charge  to  the 
people.  In  consequence  of  this  service  the  church  once 
more  had  a  pastor,  instead  of  a  Supply,  and  the  relation 
continued  for  ten  years.  To  go  back  one  year,  and  we 
find  that  at  a  meeting  of  the  congregation  held  August 
30th,  1825,  the  question  of  building  a  new  meeting  house 
was  agitated.  The  decision,  however,  was  to  repair  the 
old  house  to  an  amount  not  exceeding  $600,  of  which  sum 
one-half  might  be  taken,  if  necessary,  from  the  funds  of 
the  church.  John  P.  Quick,  William  G.  Schenck  and 
William  P.  Prall  were  appointed  a  committee  as  man- 
agers of  the  repairs.  When  they  rendered  their  account 
it  was  found  that  the  sum  expended  was  $432.62.  The 
committee  received  from  the  congregation  a  vote  of 
thanks  for  their  diligence  and  punctuality. 

April  6th,  1826,  the  following  Trustees  were  elected, 
viz. :  John  P.  Quick,  John  Kee,  George  F.  Wilson,  Peter 
P.  Quick,  William  R.  Prall,  Titus  Quick  and  Jonathan 
Hoagland.  This  is  the  last  record  of  the  election  of 
Trustees  during  Mr.  Clark's  pastorate. 

Titus  Quick  had  been  President  of  the  Board  and 
Treasurer  from  1821  to  1825.     The  receipts  for  salary 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1 820-1900      175 

show  that  John  P.  Quick  filled  that  office  from  1826  to 
April,  1 83 1,  and  George  F.  Wilson  from  November, 
1 83 1,  to  the  close  of  Mr.  Clark's  connection  with  the 
church  in  1836.  While  the  books  give  the  names  of  fifty- 
eight  contributors  to  the  salary  in  1821,  and  sixty-two  in 
1822,  one  is  impressed  with  the  small  amount  given  by 
each,  ranging  from  twenty-five  cents  to  four  dollars  for 
the  half  year,  and  very  few  reached  the  larger  amount. 
The  books  show  that  the  total  amount  contributed  each 
six  months  for  several  years  was  from  sixty-two  to  sixty- 
four  dollars,  instead  of  eighty-one,  as  promised  in  the 
call.  But  as  the  receipts  of  the  pastor  show  that  the 
salary  was  paid  in  full,  it  must  have  been  taken  either 
from  the  funds  or  raised  in  some  other  way.    The  former 

is  the  more  probable.     These  statements  are  in  accord 

1, 

with  that  made  to  Presbytery  in  1823,  that  the  church 
did  not  make  out  a  call  in  due  form  because  of  financial 
inability.  The  church  at  this  time  either  was  very  poor, 
or  felt  itself  very  poor.  The  minutes  of  the  Session  also 
show  that  at  this  time  there  was  a  low  state  of  piety  in  the 
church,  and  the  common  tendency  of  this  state  of  things 
is  to  produce  a  low  condition  in  treasury.  The  philosophy 
of  the  situation  is  that  men  only  give  voluntarily  to  that 
in  which  they  are  interested.  The  Amwell  Church  is 
again  evidence  for  this,  because  very  soon  after  the  re- 
vival of  1829  and  1830,  the  church  began  to  agitate  the 
question  of  having  a  pastor's  whole  time,  and  actually  ac- 
complished this  and  built  the  new  church  too,  while  pass- 
ing through  the  financial  crisis  of  1837. 

One  is  also  impressed  with  the  small  number  of  com- 
municants in  the  church  now,  when  it  had  been  organized 


176  AM  WELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

nearly  or  quite  one  hundred  years.  We  must  remember, 
however,  that  the  case  is  not  nearly  so  bad  as  it  appears, 
because  while  we  notice  the  small  number  of  the  church's 
members,  we  must  remember  the  larger  number  of  com- 
municants who  have  gone  out  from  this  mother  church 
to  the  new  churches  formed  on  what  was  originally  the 
field  occupied  by  this  church  alone.  And  yet  here  is  the 
fact  alluded  to.  We  discovered  a  small  half  sheet  of 
paper  on  which  is  inscribed,  evidently  in  Mr.  Clark's 
own  handwriting,  the  list  of  communicants  of  the  church 
as  he  found  them  when  he  began  preaching  for  the  church 
as  a  Supply  October  28th,  1820.  That  list  is  as  follows: 
Titus  Quick,  Elder,  Mrs.  Hannah  Quick,  Mrs.  Mary 
Prall,  wife  of  Dr.  William  Prall,  Mrs.  Mary  Hoagland, 
Mrs.  Mary  Wilson,  Mr.  Isaac  Taylor,  Mrs.  Margaret 
Taylor,  Mr.  John  Kee,  Mrs.  Mary  Schenck,  wife  of  Wil- 
liam G.  Schenck,  Mrs.  Sarah  Prall,  wife  of  Abram  Prall, 
Mrs.  Ann  Sutphin,  wife  of  Derrick  Sutphin,  Mrs.  Lu- 
cretia  Prall,  wife  of  Theodore  Prall,  Mr.  Tunis  Quick, 
Mrs.  Rhoda  Quick,  Mrs.  Mary  Schenck,  widow,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Enos  Lanning,  in  all  seventeen.  There  was  not 
a  young  man  nor  a  young  woman  among  them. 

During  Mr.  Clark's  connection  with  this  church  and 
that  at  Flemington  the  arrangement  was  that  he  should 
be  wfth  each  church  on  alternate  Sabbaths.  There  would 
be  a  sermon  in  the  morning,  then  an  hour  for  recess,  and 
after  luncheon  another  service.  "On  communion  Sab- 
baths the  members  of  the  two  churches,  as  far  as  possible, 
assembled  around  the  table  in  whichever  church  the  ser- 
vice was  held"  (Mott).  To  some  degree  the  same  inter- 
change in  attendance  took  place  on  other  Sabbaths. 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      177 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Session  under  Rev.  John  F. 
Clark  was  held  March  27th,  1821,  at  the  house  of  Mrs. 
Mary  Wilson  near  the  church.  And  this  is  the  first 
meeting  of  the  Session  of  this  church  of  which  we  have 
any  record.  All  previous  Sessional  records  in  any  form 
whatever  being  lost.  The  place  of  this  meeting,  at  the 
residence  of  Mrs.  Mary  Wilson,  is  worthy  of  historical 
reference.  Mrs.  Wilson  was  the  widow  of  Nathaniel 
Wilson,  who  purchased  the  parsonage  and  adjoining  plan- 
tation in  1806.  The  records  show  that  after  this  date 
the  Session  frequently  convened  at  her  home.  And  there 
is  a  pleasing  tradition  that  her  home  was  made  the  hos- 
pitable home  of  any  and  all  clergymen  visiting  or  in  any 
way  serving  the  church.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Jacob 
Fisher.  Her  birth  is  not  given  in  family  records  in  hand, 
but  occurred  evidently  at  or  near  the  beginning  of  the 
last  quarter  of  the  eighteenth  century,  as  shown  by  the 
births  of  brothers  and  sisters.  She  was  a  granddaughter 
of  Peter  Fisher.  Peter  Fisher  came  to  this  country  from 
Germany  in  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century  and 
settled  on  lands  long  owned  by  the  late  Caleb  Fisher. 
Snell's  History  of  Hunterdon  County  places  his  coming 
in  1729.  While  a  writer  on  the  Fisher  family  says  his 
oldest  son,  Anthony,  was  baptized  In  the  Reading  Church 
in  1725.  This  Mary  Wilson  was  the  mother  of  George 
F.  Wilson,  who  for  more  than  twenty  years  was  an  Elder 
in  the  church,  and  long  the  Clerk  of  the  Session.  The 
Session  above  referred  to  was  opened  with  prayer.  Mem- 
bers present:  Rev.  John  Flavel  Clark,  Moderator,  and 
Titus  Quick,  the  only  Elder  in  the  church,  Mr.  Isaac 

Hill,  an  Elder  In  the  church  at  Flemington,  being  present, 
12 


178  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

was  invited  to  sit  as  a  corresponding  member.  Also 
Messrs.  Tunis  Quick,  Enos  Lanning  and  John  Hagemen, 
all  church  members,  being  present,  were  invited  to  sit 
with  the  Session.  Mrs.  Mary  Sutphin,  wife  of  Colonel 
Sutphin,  and  Miss  Martha  Foster,  presenting  themselves, 
were  examined  and  received  into  the  membership  of  the 
church.     Session  closed  with  prayer. 

Titus  Quick,  Clerk. 

April  22d,  1822,  the  Session  received  William  Hall, 
on  examination,  to  membership  in  this  church.  Septem- 
ber, 22d,  1822,  John  Hageman  and  his  wife,  Lucretia, 
were  received  on  certificate  for  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church  at  Neshanic,  and  Miss  Catalina  Van  Harlingen 
from  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  Millstone.  Also 
Miss  Rebecca  Van  Pelt,  on  certificate  from  the  Presby- 
terian Church  of  Princeton. 

Messrs.  Hageman  and  Tunis  Quick  were  on  this  day 
nominated  and  elected  to  the  office  of  Ruling  Elder.  And 
on  the  fouth  day  of  October  they  were  set  apart  to  this  of- 
fice by  ordination. 

The  Session  met  October  loth,  1822,  and  was  opened 
with  prayer.  Mrs.  Tenbrook,  Mrs.  Prall  and  Mrs.  Sarah 
Sutphin  were  received  after  examination  into  the  mem- 
bership of  the  church;  also  Mrs.  Leah  Mattison  on  cer- 
tificate from  the  United  First  Church  of  Amwell. 

April  8th,  1823,  Peter  Prall,  Senior,  was  received  on 
examination. 

October  20th,  1823,  the  Session  met  the  church,  all  the 
members  being  present.  After  conversation  on  the  low 
state  of   religion  it  was  resolved  to  recommend   Friday 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      179 

next,  to  be  observed  by  this  church  as  a  day  of  humiliation, 
fasting  and  prayer.  Mrs.  Frances,  wife  of  Polhemus 
Higgins,  applied  to  be  received  to  the  sealing  ordinances 
of  the  church.  After  careful  examination  her  request 
was  granted. 

May  8th,  1824,  Mr.  Derrick  Sutphin  appeared  before 
Session  and  applied  for  church  privileges.  After  satisfac- 
tory examination  as  to  his  views  of  divine  truth  and  his 
acquaintance  with  experimental  religion,  it  was  unani- 
mously voted  to  receive  him. 

At  a  meeting  of  Session  October  i8th,  1824,  the  mem- 
bers all  present,  it  was  again  recommended  to  the  church 
to  set  apart  a  day  for  fasting,  because  of  the  languishing 
state  of  religion  and  earnestly  beseech  of  God  the  out- 
pouring of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

November  17th,  1825,  the  Session  met  at  the  house  of 
Mrs.  Mary  Wilson  and  received  the  following  persons 
on  examination,  viz.:  Mr.  John  Quick  (evidently  John 
P.),  Mrs.  Ann  Blackwell  and  Mary  Bellis,  and  Miss 
Betsy  Ann  Mattison. 

May  3d,  1826,  Session  met  at  the  residence  of  Mrs. 
Sarah  Wilson  and  spent  an  hour  together  in  prayer  and 
free  conversation  on  the  state  of  religion.  Also  pledged 
themselves  to  each  other  and  to  God  to  be  more  earnest 
in  prayer,  to  God  for  the  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

November  gth,  1826,  Session  again  met  at  the  home 
of  Mrs.  Sarah  Wilson  and  spent  the  time  in  prayer  and 
free  conversation  about  the  state  of  the  church. 

November  3d,  1827,  the  Session  met  at  the  house  of 
Mrs.  Wilson  near  the  church  (this  is  Mrs.  Mary  Wil- 
son).    Elders  all  present.     Mrs.  Lanning,  wife  of  John 


i8o  AM  WELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

G.  Lanning,  produced  a  certificate  from  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Chenango  Point,  New  York,  which  being 
found  in  order,  she  was  admitted  to  the  membership  of 
the  church. 

April  15th,  1828,  Mrs.  Margaret  Blue  was  received 
on  examination. 

At  a  meeting  of  Session  in  1828  it  was  resolved  that 
pastoral  visitation  by  the  Session  should  have  attention  in 
efforts  to  promote  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  church. 
Similar  duties  and  observances  were  recommended  on  two 
or  three  other  occasions  while  Mr.  Clark  was  with  the 
church.  These  endeavors  show  very  deep  concern  and 
great  faithfulness  on  the  part  of  the  pastor,  and  it  is  note- 
worthy that  he  secured  the  co-operation  of  the  Elders. 
On  the  other  hand  the  misdemeanors  recorded  and  the 
several  cases  of  discipline  exercised  at  time  for  the  most 
flagrant  conduct,  make  it  evident  that  there  was  reason 
for  these  measures.  It  is  gratifying  to  know  that  such 
faithfulness  had  its  reward. 

May  I  St,  1829,  the  Session  received  Mrs.  Catharine 
Quick,  wife  of  Samuel  Quick,  into  church  membership 
by  letter  from  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  Millstone. 

October  loth,  1829,  we  have  a  minute  which  shows 
how  rigid  the  Session  was  in  the  administration  of  dis- 
cipline. We  copy  it  as  a  part  of  the  history  and  an  ex- 
ample of  the  course  pursued  by  the  Session.  A  female 
member  evidently  of  good  social  standing  was  charged 
by  public  rumor  of  having  violated  the  seventh  command- 
ment. At  this  meeting  she  voluntarily  sent  a  letter  to  the 
Session  acknowledging  the  guilt  of  which  she  was  thus 
charged.     Whereupon  it  was  unanimously  resolved  that 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820-1900      181 

she  be  cut  off  from  all  the  privileges  of  the  church  and  her 
name  be  erased  from  the  list  of  its  members.  Ordered 
further  that  the  pastor  address  her  a  letter  suitable  to  her 
case  and  informing  her  of  the  punishment  inflicted  on  her. 
Usually  it  was  added  in  cases  of  discipline,  as  our  book 
requires,  until  the  person  gives  satisfactory  evidence  of  re- 
pentance. And  it  may  be  remarked  that  the  many  cases 
of  discipline  recorded,  many  of  them  for  most  flagrant 
conduct,  make  it  evident  that  there  was  need  of  discipline. 
It  is  gratifying  to  know  that  the  faithfulness  on  the  part 
of  pastor  and  elders  had  its  reward. 

In  1829  and  1830  the  church  was  favored  with  precious 
seasons  of  revival. 

October  17th,  1829,  the  Session  received  on  examina- 
tion George  F.  Wilson  and  Lucretia,  his  wife,  Gideon 
Quick  and  Sarah  Fisher  (first  teacher  in  Sunday  School) 
his  wife,  Jacob  Schenck  and  Jane,  his  wife,  Sarah,  the 
wife  of  Lewis  Labaw,  and  Ann,  the  wife  of  Jonathan 
Hoagland. 

November  28th,  1829,  Session  received  on  examination 
Lewis  Labaw  and  Eliza  Skillman  to  the  sacrament  of 
baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper. 

December  12th,  1829,  Alpheus  Chamberlin  and  Cath- 
arine, his  wife,  Peter  Young  and  Elizabeth,  his  wife,  Jo- 
seph Sutphin  and  Mary,  his  wife,  and  Polhemus  Higgins 
were  received  on  examination. 

January  9th,  1830,  John  Holcomb,  Alexander  Mc- 
Gaw,  Mrs.  Margaret  Stryker,  Miss  Julia  Ann  Case  and 
Samuel,  a  man  of  color,  were  received  to  church  member- 
ship after  due  examination.  This  is  the  last  meeting  at- 
tended by  Elder  Titus  Quick.    He  acted  as  Clerk  of  Ses- 


i82  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

sion  from  the  beginning  of  Mr.  Clark's  pastorate  to  the 
present  time,  the  period  of  eight  years  and  a  few  months. 
There  is  no  record  of  his  death  in  the  minutes,  but  we 
find  in  the  Trustee  book  that  November  19th,  1832,  Ger- 
shom  Quick,  his  executor,  had  settled  with  the  Treasurer 
of  the  church  and  paid  over  from  his  estate  the  balance 
due  the  church  on  his  subscription. 

January  23d,  1830,  William  G.  Schenck,  Henry 
Schenck  and  Eliza,  his  wife,  Peter  Quick  and  Ann,  his 
wife,  and  Abraham  Prall,  after  careful  examination,  were 
received  into  church  membership.  The  minute  is  signed 
by  Elder  John  Hageman,  who  appears  as  the  Clerk  of 
Session. 

November  26th,  1831,  at  the  meeting  of  Session  we 
find  Peter  Young  and  John  R.  Quick  and  George  F. 
Wilson  enrolled  among  the  Elders,  but  we  have  no  record 
of  their  election  and  ordination  to  this  office.  At  this 
meeting  the  Session  received  on  examination  Joseph  Van 
Marter,  Jacob  Polhemus,  Eliza  Prall,  Charity  Meldrum, 
Peggy  Schenck,  Debora  Van  Ness,  Gabriel  and  Caleb 
Farley,  men  of  color,  and  Caty,  a  woman  oi  color. 

May  9th,  1832,  Miss  Margaret  Bowman  was  received 
on  examination. 

November  i6th,  1832,  the  Session,  after  examination, 
received  Miss  Harriet  Schenck,  Miss  Jane  Schenck,  Hart 
Wilson  and  Amelia,  his  wife,  Mrs.  Nathaniel  Wilson, 
and  Nean,  a  man  of  color. 

May  17th,  1833,  in  this  minute  we  find  that  applicants 
for  church  membership  were  examined  as  to  their  views 
of  doctrine,  and  their  experimental  piety.     At  this  meet- 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      183 

ing  the  Session  received  Mrs.  Mary,  wife  of  John  Young, 
and  Keziah,  a  woman  of  color. 

November  13th,  1833,  received  to  sealing  ordinance  of 
the  church,  after  examination,  Jonathan  Conover,  John 
Young  and  Betty,  a  woman  of  color. 

Under  this  date  of  May  17th,  1833,  there  is  an  addi- 
tional minute  stating  that  Elder  Tunis  Quick,  charged 
with  frequent  litigation  and  detention  of  property  after 
he  had  sold  it,  was  by  unanimous  vote  of  Session  sus- 
pended from  the  communion  of  the  church. 

May  7th,  1834,  the  Session  received  on  examination 
Frank,  a  man  of  color,  belonging  to  Gideon  Quick,  and 
Miss  Margaret  Bowman. 

November  9th,  1834,  Mrs.  Sarah  Ann  Wilson,  wife  of 
Nathaniel  Wilson,  was  received  on  examination  into  the 
membership  of  the  church. 

May,  1836,  Miss  Gertrude  Edwards  was  received  on 
examination  to  church  membership.  This  meeting  was 
the  last  at  which  Mr.  Clark  was  present. 

The  whole  number  received  by  Mr.  Clark  on  examina- 
tion was  seventy-two  and  on  certificate  nine.  The  total 
membership  of  the  church  at  the  time  of  his  leaving  was 
eighty-eight.  The  church  had  reached  the  point  of  being 
able  to  support  a  pastor  alone,  and  the  steps  had  been 
taken  for  its  accomplishment. 

A  few  facts  must  here  be  recorded  not  found  in  the 
Sessional  records.  For  these  we  are  indebted  to  Dr. 
Mott.  "For  almost  sixteen  years  the  union  between 
Flemington  Church  and  the  Amwell  First  Church  had 
existed  harmoniously.  Then  on  March  4th,  1836,  a  com- 
munication was  received  from  the  mother  church  express- 


1 84  AM  WELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

ing  the  kindest  feelings  and  grateful  remembrances  of  the 
pleasant  associations  of  the  past,  but  stating  in  their  judg- 
ment the  time  had  come  when  the  interests  of  each  con- 
gregation would  be  best  served  by  a  discontinuance  of 
this  relation;  it  added  that  they  desired  the  entire  services 
of  a  pastor.  They  requested  that  the  union  might  be  dis- 
solved at  the  approaching  meeting  of  Presbytery  in  April. 
This  feeling  had  been  forming  for  four  years  previous. 
Hence  it  was  not  a  sudden  impulse,  nor  did  it  grow  out 
of  any  friction  between  these  churches.  On  the  9th  of 
April  the  Flemington  congregation  formerly  concurred  in 
the  request.  On  the  21st  of  April  the  Flemington  con- 
gregation met  and  made  out  a  call  to  Mr.  Clark  asking 
for  his  whole  time  and  offering  as  salary  $500.  A  similar 
call  wa  sextended  to  Mr.  Clark  by  the  mother  church. 

The  Presbytery  of  Newton  met  at  Harmony,  Warren 
County,  on  the  26th  of  April.  These  calls  each  for  Mr. 
Clark's  whole  time  were  placed  in  his  hands  on  the  27th. 
Thereupon  he  signified  his  acceptance  of  the  call  from 
Amwell  First,  and  requested  that  the  pastoral  relation 
between  himself  and  the  Flemington  Church  might  be  dis- 
solved. The  request  was  granted.  For  these  acts  of 
Presbytery  I  am  indebted  to  Rev.  E.  Clark  Cline,  Stated 
Clerk. 

The  hopes  inspired  by  Mr.  Clark's  acceptance  of  the 
call  from  Amwell  were  soon  disappointed,  since  Mr. 
Clark  remained  as  sole  pastor  of  our  church  for  only  a 
few  months.  The  relation  terminated  December  27th, 
1836.  The  only  reference  to  this  in  the  minutes  is  the 
following,  viz.,  that  "the  Session  met  January  15th,  1837, 
at  the  house  of  John  P.  Quick,  and  was  opened  with 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 18201900      185 

prayer;  and  then  the  minutes  add  that  our  former  pastor, 
Rev.  Mr.  Clark,  having  left  us  to  labor  in  Paterson,  N. 
J.,  Elder  George  Fisher  Wilson  was  unanimously  chosen 
Chairman  of  the  Session."  To  return  to  Mr.  Clark  he 
accepted  a  call  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Pater- 
son. He  remained  at  Paterson  for  six  years.  He  then 
accepted  a  call  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Oyster  Bay, 
L.  I.,  recently  become  famous  as  the  summer  home  of 
President  Roosevelt.  The  pastorate  at  Oyster  Bay  con- 
tinued for  only  one  year.  His  next  settlement  v^^as  as 
pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Fishkill  village. 
Duchess  County,  N.  Y.,  w^here  he  labored  for  eight  years. 
He  died  in  this  charge  in  1853  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine 
years. 

The  Rev.  John  Flavel  Clark  came  to  this  church  at  a 
time  of  great  difficulty  in  the  church  and  great  depression 
in  the  country.  The  life  of  the  church  wsls  at  a  low  ebb. 
Having  previously  had  the  services  and  support  of  a  pas- 
tor for  only  one-fourth  of  his  time  for  many  years  the 
financial  ability  of  the  church  was  almost  wholly  unde- 
veloped. The  large  funds  in  the  hands  of  the  church 
doubtless  led  to  this  indifference,  creating  a  tendency  to 
depend  on  the  funds  in  hand,  rather  than  to  give  them- 
selves to  work  in  hand.  By  God's  blessing  on  the  pas- 
tor's labors  the  church  was  eventually  much  revived 
and  felt  the  thrill  of  a  new  spiritual  life.  As  a  conse- 
quence, the  church  began  to  realize  her  ability  and  be- 
come willing  to  perform  her  duty.  By  degrees  the  desire 
was  begotten  for  a  pastor's  whole  time  and  the  church 
was  ready  to  assume  his  support.  In  addition  to  this  the 
congregation  was  getting  ready  to  undertake  the  building 


1 86  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

of  a  new  church.  Further,  to  Mr.  Clark  belongs  the 
honor  of  having  organized  our  Sabbath  School.  The  date 
of  the  organization  has  not  been  preserved,  but  we  have 
been  able,  with  the  help  of  the  late  Mr.  Jacob  Quick,  to 
assign  its  origin  to  the  year  1828,  with  the  assurance  that 
this  date  is  substantially,  if  not  absolutely  correct.  The 
statement  of  Mr.  Quick  was  this:  That  he  attended  the 
Sabbath  School  when  first  organized  and  that  his  mother, 
Mrs.  Sarah  Fisher  Quick  (wife  of  Gideon),  and  Paul 
Kuhl  were  teachers.  It  was  his  recollection  that  he  was 
ten  years  of  age  at  the  time.  This  gave  us  the  date  as 
above.  George  Fisher  Wilson  and  John  Hageman  were 
also  teachers  at  this  early  period.  This  opinion  of  Jacob 
was  concurred  in  by  his  brother.  Elder  Caleb  Farley 
Quick. 

Also  it  is  to  be  remembered  that  Mr.  Clark  (at  the 
time  pastor  of  the  Flemington  Church  alone)  was  present 
at  and  delivered  an  address  at  the  organization  of  the 
Hunterdon  County  Bible  Society  in  18 16. 

Mr.  Clark  was  also  the  first  pastor  of  this  church  to 
secure  regular  contributions  to  the  cause  of  missions.  Be- 
fore this  time  there  had,  in  fact,  been  collections  for  mis- 
sions, and  the  first  pastors  of  the  church,  at  times,  left  the 
church  for  months  at  a  time  and  did  missionary  work  in 
destitute  places  under  the  appointment  of  Presbytery.  The 
work  then  was  largely  among  the  Indians  of  our  own  and 
neighboring  states.  Contributions  were  also  secured  for 
the  education  of  young  men  for  the  ministry.  But  the 
work  was  more  or  less  irregular.  Mr.  Clark  gave  to  this 
effort  a  degree  of  system  and  regularity.  The  collections 
at  first  were  indeed  small,  being  as  low  as  two  dollars  a 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      187 

year,  then  up  to  ten.  But  in  1832,  soon  after  the  revival 
Amwell  and  Flemington  each  gave  $25  to  missions.  Col- 
lections were  also  taken  for  the  Bible  Society,  for  the 
education  of  young  men  to  the  ministry,  and  for  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton.  The  great  achieve- 
ment, how^ever,  w^as  to  get  the  movement  fairly  started. 
Having  said  so  much  of  the  pastor,  a  iew  statements  con- 
cerning Mr.  Clark's  personal  history  will  certainly  be 
appropriate. 

John  Flavel  Clark  was  the  eldest  of  the  three  sons  of 
Dr.  Joseph  Clark,  who  was  pastor  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  of  New  Brunswick  from  1796  to  1813. 
John  graduated  from  Princeton  College  in  1807,  holding 
rank  among  the  first  scholars  in  his  class.  After  gradua- 
tion, he  was  engaged  in  teaching  for  some  time  in  Georgia. 
He  began  the  study  of  divinity  at  Andover  in  18 10,  and 
there  became  acquainted  with  Newell,  Mills  and  Judson, 
the  pioneers  in  the  cause  of  foreign  missions.  Before  his 
course  of  study  was  completed,  he  was  chosen  tutor  at 
Princeton  College  and  held  the  position  for  three  years. 
He  pursued  his  theological  studies  in  the  meantime  under 
Dr.  Ashbel  Green,  President  of  the  College.  From  this 
position  he  was  called  to  Flemington  as  a  Stated  Supply 
for  three  months,  beginning  in  November,  18 14,  at  the 
rate  of  $600  a  year.  This  resulted  in  his  being  called  to 
become  pastor,  and  he  was  ordained  and  installed  over 
that  church  June  14th,  181 5.  He  became  Supply  for 
Amwell  First  in  1820.  His  connection  with  this  church 
for  the  next  sixteen  years  has  been  described.  Of  the  sev- 
enty-three persons  received  into  the  membership  of  the 
church  on  examination  and  six  on  certificate,  not  one  is 


1 88  AM  WELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

now  with  us.  But  many  of  our  older  people  who  sat 
under  his  ministry  in  their  youth  well  remember  him  and 
his  wife. 

It  was  my  privilege  to  attend  the  semi-centennial  anni- 
versary of  the  Presbytery  of  Newton  in  1867.  Rev.  D. 
X.  Junkin,  D.  D.,  delivered  the  historical  discourse  on 
that  occasion.  Of  his  friend,  John  Flavel  Clark,  he  said: 
''Many  here  will  remember  his  large,  portly  frame,  his 
pleasant  beaming  countenance,  his  genial  companionship, 
his  exhaustless  fund  of  anecdote,  his  kindly,  generous 
heart,  his  clear,  loud  and  commanding  voice,  his  impres- 
sive appearance  and  solemn  manner  in  the  pulpit.  He 
was  a  good  preacher  and  a  good  man.  Some  were  of 
opinion  that  his  wonderful  powers  of  wit  and  anecdotal 
conversation  impaired  his  usefulness,  but  as  far  as  my  ob- 
servation extended  this  power  was  kept  under  the  restraint 
of  good  taste  and  piety,  and  whilst  it  made  him  the  life 
of  the  social  circle,  I  never  saw  it  interfere  with  the 
graver  duties  of  his  ministry." 

I  deem  it  appropriate  to  add  a  word  concerning  Mrs. 
Clark,  since  the  wife  of  the  pastor  has  often  a  difficult 
position  to  fill  and  upon  her  faithfulness  in  the  home 
duties,  as  well  as  those  which  pertain  to  her  as  a  member 
of  the  church  very  much  of  her  husband's  standing  and 
usefulness  depends.  Mrs.  Clark  was  a  sister  to  the  late 
Mrs.  Jane  Maxwell  Green,  of  Easton,  to  whose  daughter 
I  was  married  in  i860.  She  was  also  a  sister  of  the  late 
John  Maxwell  Sherrerd,  for  years  a  leader  of  the  bar  in 
Belvidere,  and  also  a  most  useful  and  highly  honored 
Elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  there.  While  I  did  not 
have  the  privilege  of  an  acquaintance  with  this  uncle  and 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1 820-1 900       189 

aunt,  I  have  naturally  come  to  know  something  of  them 
personally.  Mary  Sherrerd,  wife  of  Rev.  John  F.  Clark, 
was  the  daughter  of  Samuel  Sherrerd  and  Ann  Maxwell, 
his  wife,  of  Pleasant  Valley,  Warren  County,  N.  J.  She 
was  the  granddaughter  of  Captain  John  Maxwell,  of  the 
Revolutionary  Army.  Captain  Maxwell,  though  of  in- 
ferior rank,  was  not  inferior  in  his  patriotism  to  his  more 
distinguished  brother.  General  William  Maxwell,  a  mem- 
ber of  Washington's  staff.  In  the  darkest  hour  of  the 
conflict,  when  Washington  was  retreating  through  the 
Jerseys,  Captain  Maxwell  raised  a  company  of  one  hun- 
dred men  in  and  around  Greenwich,  and  with  these,  ten- 
dered his  services  to  the  great  chieftain.  He  was  present 
at  and  had  a  part  in  the  battles  of  Trenton,  Princeton 
Brandywine,  Germantown,  Monmouth  and  Springfield. 
The  Rev.  Joseph  Clark,  D.  D.,  father  of  John  Flavel 
Clark,  served  on  Washington's  staff  during  the  Revolu- 
tion. This  gives  you  a  glimpse  of  the  patriotic  blood  in 
the  veins  of  this  honored  pastor  and  his  wife.  And  if  the 
piety  and  good  judgment  of  Mrs.  Clark  were  like  that 
of  her  sisters  and  her  brother,  of  which  I  have  no  doubt, 
then  she  was  as  true  to  her  Saviour  as  grandparents  were 
to  their  country.  Her  son.  Dr.  Samuel  Clark,  late  of 
Belvidere,  was  an  honor  to  these  godly  parents,  and  their 
grandson,  Judge  Flavel  Magee,  of  Jersey  City,  and  an 
Elder  in  the  First  Church  there,  is  also  continuing  in  the 
ways  of  his  pious  ancestors.*  Those  who  have  inherited 
the  labors,  the  faithfulness  and  the  prayers  of  such  a  pas- 
tor as  Rev.  John  F.  Clark,  have  reason  for  gratitude  to 


^Written  in  1898.    Judge  Magee  has  since  died. 


190  AM  WELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

God,  and  surely  have  a  strong  Incentive  to  unsw^erving 
fidelity  to  the  Saviour. 

THE   EIGHTH   PASTOR,   REV.  DAVID   HULL, 
1837— 1844. 

The  pastoral  relation  between  Amwell  First  Church 
and  the  Rev.  John  Flavel  Clark  having  been  dissolved 
December  27th,  1836,  the  Session  met  January  15th, 
1837,  when  Elder  George  F.  Wilson  was  elected  Chair- 
man of  Session,  and  John  Hageman,  Clerk. 

March  14th,  1837,  ^t  a  meeting  of  the  Session,  the 
Chairman  was  directed  to  invite  the  Rev.  David  Hull  to 
preach  for  this  church  as  a  candidate.  Mr.  Hull  was  a 
young  man  who  had  been  ordained  as  an  evangelist  the 
previous  year  by  the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland.  At 
a  meeting  of  the  Session,  held  April  12th,  1837,  the  record 
of  which  states  that  Mr.  Hull  having  preached  several 
times  for  us  it  was  decided  to  receive  him  as  a  supply  for  six 
months,  and  George  F.  Wilson,  the  delegate  to  Presby- 
tery, was  instructed  to  ask  Presbytery  to  appoint  him  to 
this  service.  Mr.  Hull  was  received  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Newton  April  25th,  1837,  from  the  Presbytery  of  North- 
umberland, and  the  above  request  was  granted. 

The  Amwell  First  Church  presented  a  call  for  the  pas- 
toral services  of  the  Rev.  David  Hull  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Newton,  In  session  at  Flemlngton,  October  4th,  1837, 
and  arrangements  were  made  for  his  installation  Novem- 
ber 23d  following.  At  this  service  the  Rev.  John  Mc- 
Nalr,  of  Mllford,  was  appointed  to  preside  and  preach 
the  sermon,  Rev.  D.  X.  Junkin,  of  Greenwich,  to  charge 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900       191 

the  pastor,  and  the  Rev.  James  M.  Olmstead,  of  Flem- 
ington  to  charge  the  people. 

The  installation  took  place  as  thus  arranged  and  once 
more  the  church  was  equipped  for  action. 

The  congregation  met  at  the  church  April  26th,  1838, 
with  George  F.  Wilson  as  Moderator  and  John  Hage- 
man  as  Clerk.  The  following  persons  were  then  elected 
to  the  office  of  Trustees,  viz.:  Peter  P.  Quick,  Joseph 
Van  Marter,  Gideon  Quick,  Jonathan  H.  Conover, 
Lewis  Labaw,  Jacob  W.  Schenck  and  George  P.  Rex, 
M.  D. 

The  President  of  the  Board,  Peter  P.  Quick,  reported 
on  the  funds  of  the  church  as  follows:  Principal,  $2,800, 
and  interest  due  May  ist,  1838,  $195.60. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  congregation  held  at  the  church 
November  4th,  1837,  with  John  Hageman  as  Moderator 
and  Peter  Prall  Secretary,  a  motion  was  made  to  build 
a  new  meeting  house  at  or  near  Greenville. 

After  discussion,  the  meeting  adjourned  to  meet  the 
first  Staurday  in  January,  1838.  The  congregation  as- 
sembled, accordingly,  and  chose  Jonathan  H.  Conover 
Moderator,  and  Peter  Prall  Secretary.  The  subject  was 
again  discussed  and  the  meeting  adjourned  to  the  lOth 
day  of  February.  At  this  meeting  John  Hageman  was 
chosen  Moderator  and  George  B.  Smith  Secretary.  The 
original  motion  was  called  up,  when  it  was  unanimously 
decided  to  be  expedient  to  build  a  meeting  house  at  or 
near  Greenville. 

The  following  committee  was  appointed  to  secure  sub- 
scriptions, viz:  George  F.  Wilson,  Gideon  Quick,  Jacob 
F.  Prall,  Jacob  W.  Schenck,  and  George  P.  Rex.,  M.  D. 


192  AM  WELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

The  congregation  met  June  2nd  following,  when  the 
committee  reported  having  secured  subscriptions  amount- 
ing to  $1,629.00.  It  was  also  stated  by  the  committee 
that  the  uncertainty  about  the  location  was  assigned  by 
many  persons  as  a  reason  for  not  subscribing.  At  the 
same  time  the  committee  expressed  great  satisfaction  with 
the  liberal  subscriptions  received,  and  the  promise  of 
further  help  as  the  work  progressed. 

As  the  matter  then  stood  eleven  of  those  who  had 
subscribed  resided  west  of  the  church,  and  sixty-one  on 
the  east  side.  If  the  new  church  should  be  located  at 
Greenville,  twenty-seven  would  reside  on  the  west  and 
forty-four  on  the  east  side.  This  indicated  Greenville  as 
the  more  central  location. 

It  was  then  resolved  that,  inasmuch  as  only  about  one- 
half  the  sum  needed  for  a  new  church  had  been  sub- 
scribed, and  that  as  there  was  great  inequality  in  the 
subscriptions,  that  we  appropriate  so  much  of  the  prin- 
cipal of  the  church  funds  as  may  be  necessary  to  erect  a 
new  house  of  worship,  at  or  near  Greenville.  This  mo- 
tion was  unanimously  adopted.  An  adjourned  meeting 
of  the  congregation  was  held  June  9th,  at  the  schoolhouse 
in  Greenville,  at  which  John  P.  Quick  was  chosen  Mod- 
erator and  George  F.  Wilson  Secretary.  David  S.  Man- 
ners, Daniel  Johnson  and  George  P.  Rex,  M.  D.,  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  ascertain  whether  it  would  be 
cheaper  to  build  a  brick  or  a  frame  building.  And  John 
Hageman  and  Peter  P.  Young  were  appointed  to  wait 
upon  Jacob  Williamson,  Esq.,  and  Mrs.  Mary  Manners 
to  see  if  land  could  be  procured  for  the  church,  and  at 
what  price.     This  committee  reported  that  a  half  acre 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      193 

could  be  procured  from  the  former  for  $100,  and  from 
the  latter  it  could  be  obtained  gratuitously. 

The  congregation  again  met,  August  i8th,  1838,  with 
John  Hageman  Moderator,  and  George  P.  Rex.  Sec- 
retary. It  was  decided  at  this  meeting  to  erect  a  build- 
ing 42  feet  by  56,  and  that  it  be  put  up  by  contract. 
John  Hageman,  George  F.  Wilson,  Gideon  Quick,  Ja- 
cob W.  Schenck,  and  George  P.  Rex.,  M.  D.,  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  make  the  contract. 

The  congregation  met  April  6th,  1839,  in  the  old 
meeting  house,  when  Jonathan  H.  Conover  was  chosen 
Moderator,  and  George  P.  Rex  Secertary.  Peter  P. 
Quick,  Joseph  Van  Marter  and  Jonathan  H.  Conover 
tendered  their  resignation  as  Trustees  for  the  congrega- 
tion. Their  resignation  was  accepted,  and  Anthony  L. 
Case,  Jacob  F.  Prall  and  Ralph  Young  were  elected  to 
supply  the  vacancy.  Abraham  Prall,  Sr.,  John  P.  Quick 
and  George  F.  Wilson  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
select  the  location  for  the  church  from  the  lots  already 
reported  on.  While  their  choice  is  not  recorded,  we 
know  that  the  church  was  erected  on  the  land  purchased 
from  Jacob  Williamson,  Esq.  We  know  also  from  the 
receipts  preserved  that  the  contract  for  building  the 
church  was  given  to  Jacob  Voorhees. 

A  meeting  of  the  Trustees  was  held  April  13th,  1839, 
when  Anthony  L.  Case,  Jacob  F.  Prall  and  Ralph  Young 
were  sworn  in  as  Trustees  according  to  law,  by  James 
S.  Manners,  Esq.  The  Trustees  then  chose  Anthony 
L.  Case  as  president  of  the  Board. 

We  do  not  have  a  minute  stating  the  amount  for 
which  the  erection  of  the  building  was  contracted,  but 

13 


194  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

from  tradition  we  learn  that  it  included  the  free  use  of 
all  available  material  from  the  old  church.  The  con- 
tractors evidently  agreed  to  pay  for  the  work  in  three 
equal  payments.  For  one  of  these  we  have  the  following 
receipt : 

July  15th,  1839.  Rec'd  from  Anthony  L.  Case,  one 
of  the  Trustees  of  the  First  English  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Amwell,  by  order  of  the  Contracting  Committee,  sev- 
en hundred  and  sixty-six  dollars  and  sixty-six  cents,  be- 
ing the  second  payment  in  full  for  building  the  church  at 
Greenville.  » 

Jacob  Voorhees. 

This  would  give  $2,300  as  the  cash  payment  for  build- 
ing the  church.    The  last  receipt  is  as  follows: 

Received  from  Anthony  L.  Case  one  hundred  and  sev- 
enty-five dollars,  in  full  for  painting  the  meeting  house 
in  Greenville;  also  three  dollars  and  fifty  cents  for  put- 
ting the  numbers  on  the  seats,  and  painting  around  the 
drum,  being  in  full  of  all  claims  and  demands  whatso- 
ever against  said  congregation,  from  the  beginning  of  the 
world  to  the  present  time. 

Dec.  25th,  1839.  Jacob  Voorhees. 

Having  a  new  church  and  all  paid  for  should  have 
made  a  merry  Christmas  for  the  fathers  and  mothers  of 
that  day.  It  is  worthy  of  notice  that  the  old  church  had 
stood  for  just  one  hundred  years,  having  been  erected,  as 
we  have  shown,  in  1739. 

Changing  the  location  and  building  a  new  church  was 
also  an  event  of  great  importance  in  the  early  years  of 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      195 

Mr.  Hull's  pastorate.  Yet  it  does  not  appear  that  any 
notice  was  taken  by  him  and  the  congregation  of  this 
contennial  in  the  church's  history. 

It  was  in  this  same  year,  1839,  that  the  Synod  of  New 
Jersey,  October  i6th,  set  off  certain  churches  from  the 
Presbytery  of  Newton,  and  directed  these  churches  to 
meet,  by  their  representatives,  on  the  first  Thursday  in 
November  at  Flemington,  and  organize  themselves  into  a 
separate  Presbytery.  This  meeting  took  place  accord- 
ingly, when  the  following  pastors  were  present,  viz:  Jo- 
seph Campbell,  Jacob  Kirkpatrick,  Peter  O.  Studiford, 
Holloway  W.  Hunt,  Jr.,  James  W.  Almstead,  James 
Scott,  David  Hull,  Albert  Williams,  William  Mc  Jimp- 
sey  and  Joseph  Wood. 

These  clergymen  were  all  connected  with  the  Presby- 
tery of  Newton,  except  Dr.  Studdiford,  who  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick.  These  min- 
isters, in  connection  with  such  elders  as  were  present, 
whose  names  I  do  not  have,  except  that  of  John  Haga- 
man  of  this  church,  proceeded  to  organize  themselves  into 
a  Presbytery,  and  assumed  the  name  of  Raritan.  The  Rev. 
Joseph  Campbell,  D.  D.,  was  chosen  Moderator,  and 
Rev.  Albert  Williams  Clerk.  The  Rev.  P.  O.  Studdi- 
ford was  elected  Stated  Clerk,  which  office  he  held  until 
his  death  in  1866.  Dr.  Studdiford  was  my  preceptor  for 
one  year  before  entering  college.  He  was  a  ripe  scholar, 
an  able  preacher  and  a  faithful  Presbyter.  He  was,  in 
fact,  the  leader  in  the  Presbytery  for  many  years,  which 
position  was  accorded  him  willingly,  and  by  a  loving  de- 
ference on  the  part  of  his  brethren.    But,  though  he  held 


198  AM  WELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

tion,  whose  duty  it  shall  be,  as  soon  as  practicable,  to  assess 
on  the  pews  in  both  churches,  or  places  of  worship,  such  an 
amount  as  may  be  adequate  to  support  the  pastor. 

Third.  That  the  ministerial  services  of  the  present,  or 
any  future  pastor  shall  be  equally  divided  between  the 
two  houses  of  worship  situated  at  Greenville  and  at  Clo- 
ver Hill,  alternately  without  alteration  every  other  Sab- 
bath forever. 

Fourth.  That  all  lands,  houses  of  worship,  and  other 
property  now  possessed  by  them  respectively,  shall  be  the 
common  property  of,  and  fully  and  inalienably  vested 
in  said  corporation  forever;  providing  nevertheless,  and 
it  is  the  true  intent  and  meaning  of  this  agreement  that  no 
alteration  shall  ever  be  made  in  the  division  of  the  minis- 
terial services  as  expresed  in  this  agreement. 

Fifth.  That  this  agreement  shall  be  binding,  permanent 
and  conclusive  in  all  and  every  part  relating  to  said  con- 
gregations when  sanctioned  by  the  whole  congregation 
now  being  formed,  and  that  it  shall  be  signed  by  the  re- 
spective committees,  by  which  act  they  do  become  one 
congregation  to  all  intents  and  purposes;  and  also  to 
signify  the  consent  and  approbation  so  formed,  to  the 
terms  of  this  agreement,  that  it  be  signed  by  the  Trus- 
tees now  to  be  appointed. 

Now,  we  the  undersigned,  the  committee  appointed  by 
the  congregation  above  mentioned,  in  pursuance  of  the 
instructions  of  and  authority  vested  in  us  by  our  respec- 
tive congregations  do  agree  to  and  confirm  all  and  every 
part  of   this   agreement. 

Witness  our  hands  and  seals  this  twenty-sixth  day  of 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1^20-1900      i^gi 

May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred and  forty. 

Peter  C.  Schenck, 
John  W.  Bellis, 
Committee  of  the  Clover  Hill  Congregation, 

George  F.  Wilson, 
John  Hagaman, 
Peter  P.  Young, 
Committee  of  the  First  English  Congregation  in  Amwell, 

The  committee  also  reported  the  following  resolution, 
as  a  part  of  their  agreement: 

Whereas,  The  foregoing  agreement  contains  in  itself 
no  provision  to  authorize  a  dissolution  of  the  union  now 
formed,  although  the  state  of  the  congregation  at  some 
future  time  may  urgently  require  a  different  organiza- 
tion ;   therefore. 

Resolved,  That  if  at  any  future  time  a  majority  of 
the  congregation  should  be  convinced  that  it  would  be 
beneficial  to  organize  separately,  and  should  decide  ac- 
cordingly, then  the  property  of  whatever  kind,  held  by 
either  congregation  previous  to  the  union,  should  revert 
to  the  same,  after  the  union  has  been  dissolved. 

A  motion  was  made  and  seconded  that  the  report  of  the 
committee  of  the  two  congregations  be  accepted  and 
adopted  as  the  bond  of  union  between  said  congregations, 
whereby  they  become  one  from  henceforth.  This  motion 
was  carried  unanimously. 

It  was  then  decided  that  the  congregation,  as  formed, 
should  proceed  to  choose  Trustees,  when  the  following 
persons  were  elected  to  that  office,  viz :    Anthony  L.  Case, 


200  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Gideon  Quick,  Abraham  V.  Polhemus,  Jacob  W.  Schenck, 
C.  P.  Brokaw,  Henry  Van  Derveer,  Jr.,  and  Joseph 
Van  Marten 

George  F.  Wilson, 

Chairman. 
John  Kee, 

Clerk, 

In  connection  with  this  account  of  the  union  formed 
between  these  churches  in  1840,  there  is  an  additional  fact 
that  should  be  placed  on  record,  viz:  There  is  a  paper 
in  my  possession,  given  my  by  Augustus  Dilts,  and  found 
by  him  among  some  papers  of  his  grandfather,  Paul  K. 
Dilts,  which  contains  articles  of  agreement  between  these 
two  churches,  substantially  the  same  as  those  here  given, 
but  expressed  in  better  form.  These  articles  were  signed, 
sealed  and  delivered  in  the  presence  of  Peter  I.  Clark,  by 
the  following  committee,  the  thirty-first  day  of  March, 
eighteen   hundred  and  thirty-four'. 

John  Hagaman, 
Jonathan  Conover, 
Hart  Wilson^ 
Committee  on  behalf  of  the  Amwell  Congregation. 

John  R.  Young, 
Abraham  Polhemus, 
Committee  on  behalf  of  the  Clover  Hill  Congregation. 

In  the  body  of  the  articles  the  name  of  Abraham  C. 
Schenck  also  appears  as  a  member  of  the  committee  for 
Clover  Hill,  but  his  signature  is  not  affixed  to  the  ar- 
ticles at  the  close,  as  are  the  others. 

The   one   fact   of   interest   for   these   former  articles, 


The  modern  period— 1820-1900    201 

shows  that  the  matter  of  a  union  between  the  two  con- 
gregations had  been-  under  consideration  for  a  long  time 
before  it  was  carried  into  effect.  Why  the  action  of  the 
committee  was  not  ratified  by  the  two  congregations 
does  not  appear  from  our  records,  although  we  have  a 
minute  on  file  dated  as  is  this  paper,  and  giving  an  ac- 
count of  the  proceedings  up  to  the  point  of  ratification. 

The  Board  of  Trustees,  as  named  above,  met  and 
elected  Cornelius  P.  Brokaw  as  their  President  and 
Treasurer.  In  giving  a  statement  of  the  funds  of  the 
church  at  this  time  it  appears  that  those  funds  had  al- 
most wholly  disappeared.  For  what  purpose,  except  as 
used  in  erection  of  the  new  church,  does  not  appear. 
There  was  one  note  remaining  of  $700,  of  which  only 
one  hundred  dollars  seems  to  have  been  collected. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  congregation,  April  23rd,  1842, 
the  following  persons  were  chosen  Trustees,  viz:  Jacob 
Voorhees,  Gideon  Quick,  John  Y.  Bellis,  Theodore 
Young,  Cornelius  P.  Brokaw,  Joseph  C.  Sutphin  and 
Joseph  Van  Marten 

Jacob  Nevius, 

Chairman, 
A.  L.  Case, 

Secretary. 

These  Trustees  re-elected  Cornelius  P.  Brokaw  Pres- 
ident and  Treasurer. 

A  meeting  of  the  congregation  was  held  October  lOth, 
1842,  when  it  was  decided  to  make  an  efifort  immediately 
to  raise  by  subscription  the  amount  due  the  pastor  since 
May  1st.     This  shows  us  that  even  in  that  day  of  "the 


202  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

good  old  times,"  and  two  churches  united,  that  there  was 
a  shortage  in  receipts  to  meet  the  current  expenses  of  the 
congregation.  But  when  we  turn  to  the  records  of  the 
session  we  shall  find  that  this  was  at  a  period  of  spiritual 
poverty  as  well.  From  this  lack  of  interest  there  was  an 
empty  treasury,  and  need  of  extra  effort. 

At  the  same  meeting  it  was  decided  to  repair  the 
cupola  of  the  Clover  Hill  church.  Also  to  sell  a  portion 
of  the  church  lot  at  Clover  Hill,  east  of  the  church,  and 
apply  the  proceeds  toward  paying  the  debt  on  that  church, 
for  which  three  persons  had  given  their  joint  obligation  to 
Peter  P.  Quick,  from  whom  the  money  had  been  bor- 
rowed. 

A  more  generous  thing  was  done  when  the  united 
congregation  decided,  at  a  meeting  held  April  17th,  1843, 
to  instruct  the  Trustees  to  give  obligation  as  Trustees, 
and  thus  assume  the  obligation  of  the  debt  arising  from 
building  the  Clover  Hill  church,  and  for  which  up  to 
this  time  Peter  C.  Schenck,  John  W.  Bellis,  Jacob  Ne- 
vius  and  Henry  Van  Derveer  had  been  personally  respon- 
sible, and  that  the  Trustees  he  also  instructed  to  make 
an  immediate  effort  to  raise,  by  subscription,  the  balance 
due  Mr.  Quick.  At  the  same  meeting  the  Trustees  were 
again  directed  to  make  an  effort  to  raise,  by  subscription, 
the  sum  needed  to  pay  the  back  salary. 

John  D.  Hagaman, 

Chairman, 

C.  P.  Brokaw, 

Secretary. 

And  yet  it  was  found  necessary  at  the  next  annual 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      203 

meeting  of  the  congregation  held  February  27th,  1844,  to 
repeat  their  instructions  and  renew  the  effort  to  meet 
the  demands  to  pay  back  salary  and  to  discharge  the  debt 
due  Mr.  Quick. 

At  this  meeting  the  following  persons  were  elected 
Trustees  of  the  church,  viz:  Jacob  W.  Nevius,  Jacob 
Voorhees,  Paul  K.  Dilts,  William  Waldron,  John  E. 
Holcombe,  Gideon  Quick  and  Joseph  C.  Sutphin. 

It  remains  to  give  a  brief  account  of  the  religious  life 
of  the  church  under  Mr.  Hull,  as  shown  by  the  records 
of  the  session. 

The  first  meeting  of  session,  with  Mr.  Hull  as  Mod- 
erator, was  held  June   ist,    1837. 

George  F.  Wilson, 

Clerk. 

September  22nd,  1837,  a  communication  was  received 
from  Rev.  I.  M.  Candee,  presenting  a  plan  of  organiza- 
ization  for  greater  efficiency  in  the  cause  of  benevolence. 
The  Session  took  action  on  the  same  and  organized  the 
congregation  for  benevolent  work.  The  following  objects 
were  to  be  presented  to  the  members  of  the  congregation, 
viz:  The  Assembly's  Board  of  Home  and  Foreign  Mis- 
sions and  Education,  and  the  Bible  and  Tract  Societies. 
The  elders  were  to  act  as  collectors,  each  in  his  own  dis- 
trict, and  directed  to  make  collections  monthly,  and  to 
make  payments  quarterly  to  the  above  named  objects. 

April  2 1st,  1838,  Session  appointed  a  standing  prayer 
meeting  to  be  observed  on  Thursday  preceding  each  com- 
munion service. 

The  Session  met  the  28th  of  May,  1849.     Mr.  Hull, 


204  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Moderator,  being  present,  and  Elders  John  Hagaman, 
John  P.  Quick,  Peter  P.  Young  and  George  F.  Wilson. 
The  following  preamble  and  resolutions  were  unani- 
mously adopted,  viz: 

Whereas,  This  congregation,  and  that  of  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church  of  Clover  Hill,  have  this  day  ratified  a 
union  of  the  two  congregations,  the  latter  assuming  the 
form  and  government  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
United  States  of  America,  and  the  corporate  name  by 
which  we  are  designated  and  known,  viz :  the  First  Eng- 
lish Presbyterian  Congregation  of  Amwell,  thus  forming 
one  church  and  congregation;   and. 

Whereas,  By  this  act  the  officers  and  private  members 
of  that  church  become  officers  and  private  members  in 
this  church;    therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  names  of  Peter  C.  Schenck,  Henry 
Van  Derveer,  Sr.,  and  Jacob  Nevius,  elders  in  that 
church,  be  received  as  elders  in  this  church,  and  their 
names  be  enrolled  as  members  of  the  Session  of  the  United 
Church.  And  that  all  the  names  of  the  private  mem- 
bers of  that  church,  as  found  on  their  records,  be  enrolled 
as  members  of  this  church. 

George  F.  Wilson, 

Clerk. 

July  29th,  1840,  the  Session  recommended  a  collection 
to  be  taken  up  towards  raising  five  thousand  dollars,  as 
requested  by  the  General  Assembly,  in  aid  of  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary  at  Princeton,  November  26th,  1840.  The 
Session  confirmed  the  nomination  previously  made,  oi  the 
following  persons  as  suitable  to  be  elected  to  the  office  of 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      205 

deacon,  and  if  no  objections  b^  made,  that  they  be  or- 
dained next  Saturday,  two  weeks.  The  names  of  these 
persons  are  Peter  P.  Quick,  Lewis  Labaw,  Arthur  Sut- 
phin,  Jonathan  Conover,  John  Bellis,  Cornelius  Brokaw 
and  Ralph  Sutphin. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Session  November  8th,  1843,  the 
plan  recommended  by  the  Synod  for  the  work  of  benefi- 
cence, was  adopted,  and  is  as  follows.  That  a  book  be 
prepared  with  four  columns,  headed  each  with  these  ob- 
jects: Foreign  Missions,  Domestic  Missions,  Education 
and  the  Support  of  our  Theological  Professors,  and  that 
this  book  be  carried  through  the  congregation  by  the 
elders  and  deacons,  acting  in  their  several  districts,  in 
order  to  secure  a  contribution  from  each  person  in  the 
congregation  to  these  objects,  and  that  this  be  done  four 
times  a  year.  The  first  quarter,  beginning  with  January, 
be  devoted  to  Foreign  Missions;  the  second  quarter,  be- 
ginning with  April,  to  Domestic  Missions,  and  so  on. 
And  that  these  collectors  should  meet  ever  three  months 
and  report  the  amount  collected. 

The  congregation  convened  at  the  call  of  the  Session, 
March  26th,  1844,  when  the  pastor.  Rev.  David  Hull 
made  known  his  intention  to  ask  Presbytery  at  its  next 
meeting  to  dissolve  the  pastoral  relation  between  himself 
and  the  Amwell  First  Church,  and  requested  the  con- 
gregation to  appoint  commissioners  to  express  their  con- 
currence. This  was  done,  and  the  relation  was  dissolved 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Raritan,  April  i6th,  1844. 

The  membership  of  the  church  when  Mr.  Hull  began  his 
ministry,  was  eighty-eight.     The  following  persons  were 


2o6  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

received  into  the  membership  of  the  Church  during  his 
pastorate : 

June  1st,  1837,  on  certificate,  Miss  Mary  Ann  Wil- 
son. 

June  2nd,  1837,  on  examination,  Jane,  a  woman  of 
color. 

November  25th,  1837,  on  examination,  Harriet,  a  wo- 
man of  color. 

June  2nd,  1838,  Elder  Tunis  Quick,  who  had  been 
suspended  in  1833,  on  request,  was  restored,  after  the 
usual  examination. 

September  6th,  1838,  on  examination.  Dr.  George  P. 
Rex  and  Gertrude,  his  wife.  Mrs.  Rex  being  still  with 
us.     She  is  the  member  of  longest  standing  in  the  church. 

September  6th,  1838,  Mrs.  Sarah  Sutphin,  an  excom- 
municated member,  was,  on  her  own  request,  restored 
to  church  fellowship. 

May  28th,  1840.  The  following  persons  being  mem- 
bers of  the  church  at  Clover  Hill  at  the  time  of  the 
union  of  the  two  congregations,  were  enrolled  as  mem- 
bers of  this  church,  viz:  Jacob  Nevius  and  Hannah,  his 
wife,  Jacob  Williamson  and  Martha,  his  wife,  Henry 
Van  Derveer  and  Charity,  his  wife,  Peter  C.  Schenck  and 
Catharine,  his  daughter,  John  W.  Bellis,  Zebulun  Stout, 
and  Letitia,  his  wife,  Mrs.  Anna  Case,  Mrs.  Clorinda 
Case,  Mrs.  Theodosia  Dilts,  Mrs.  Sarah  Bellis,  Mrs. 
Anna  Nevius,  Mrs.  Aletta  Kearney,  Sampson  M.  Smith, 
John  Wortman,  Jacob  Voorhees  and  Susan,  his  wife, 
Mrs.  Sarah  Dilts,  Mrs.  Ann  Young,  Mrs.  Margaret 
Newal,  Cornelius  P.  Brokaw  and  Catharine  Susan,  his 
wife,  being  twenty-six  in  all. 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      207 

August  1st,  1840,  on  certificate,  Ralph  Sutphin  and 
Catharine,  his  wife. 

December  lOth,  1840,  on  examination.  Miss  Elizabeth 
Hagaman. 

June  5  th,  1 84 1,  on  examination,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Young. 

June  5th,  1 841,  on  certificate,  Mrs.  Wilelmina  Schenck. 

November  nth,  1841,  on  examination,  Mrs.  Ann,  wife 
of  Peter  D.  Young,  Mrs.  Anna,  wife  of  Theodore 
Young. 

April  14th,  1842,  on  examination,  Mrs.  Maria  Louisa, 
wife  of  Peter  C.  Rea,  and  Mrs.  Sarah,  wife  of  Joseph 
D.  Moon. 

July,  1842,  on  examination,  Molly  Rea,  a  girl  of  color. 

October  i6th,  1842,  on  examination,  Harriet  Phillips 
and  Gertrude  Nevius. 

October  i6th,  1842,  on  certificate,  Mrs.  Jane  Hull, 
wife  of  the  pastor  from  the  Warior  Run  Church. 

February  nth,  1843,  on  examination.  Miss  Nancy  C. 
Schenck,  Kuhl  Dilts,  Jacob  W.  Nevius  and  Mary  D. 
Hudnut. 

March  9th,  1843,  on  examination,  Mary  Voorhees, 
Hannah  Nevius,  wife  of  George  Nevius,  Derrick  Sut- 
phin and  Elizabeth,  his  wife,  Theodore  J.  Young,  Mar- 
garet K.  Wert,  Jacob  J.  Schenck,  Elnathan  D.  Van 
Kirk,  Abraham  Polhamus  and  Eleanor,  his  wife,  Alice 
Ann  W.  Polhamus,  Rachel  C.  Polhamus,  Mary  Young, 
Mrs.  Mary  Prall,  wife  of  Jacob  F.  Prall,  David  J.  Bellis, 
John  L.  Bellis,  Susan  F.  Prall,  William  V.  Waldron  and 
Laura,  his  wife,  and  Mrs.  Mary  Sutphin. 

March  25th,  1843,  on  examination,  Abraham  P.  Sut- 


2o8  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

phin  and  Sarah  Ann,  his  wife,  Ann  Sharp,  Sarah  M. 
Dilts,  Mary  Sutphin,  Elizabeth  Wortman,  Clara  L. 
Quick,  William  Van  Marter,  Jacob  Prall,  Katharine 
Prall  and  George  B.  Smith,  the  latter  being  a  member 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 

April  1st,  1843,  on  examination,  Joseph  Chamberlain 
Sutphin  and  Cornelia  Ann,  his  wife,  John  Sharp,  Mary 
Bellis,  Margaret  Deats,  Katharine  Higgins,  Peter  I. 
Nevius  and  Betty  Wilson,  a  woman  of  color. 

July  1st,   1843,  Caleb  T.  Prall  and  Hester,  his  wife. 

July  15,  John  J.  Young  and  Mrs.  Katherine  Young, 
wife  of  Ketemes. 

October  26th,  Misses  Mary  Case,  Annee  Labaw  and 
Bella  Labaw,  and  Rose  Anna,  a  person  of  color. 

January  27th,  1844,  Stephen  L.  Mershon  was  re- 
ceived on  examination.  Mr.  Mershon  was  born  in  Lau- 
rel Co.,  Ky,  March  4th,  1827.  He  graduated  from  the 
College  of  New  Jersey  in  1850,  and  was  ordained  to  the 
gospel  ministry  by  the  Presbytery  of  Long  Island,  April, 
1854,  and  was  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  East 
Hampton,  L.  I.,  from  1854-66.  He  died  at  Napanock, 
New  York,  in  1874. 

April  27th,  1844,  received  on  certificate  from  the  Re- 
formed Church  of  North  Branch,  Mrs.  Sarah  Van  Der- 
veer,  wife  of  Jacob  Van  Derveer.  This  was  the  last 
meeting  of  Session,  at  which  Rev.  David  Hull  was  pres- 
ent. The  pastoral  relation  between  himself  and  the  Am- 
well  First  Church  having  been  dissolved  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Raritan,  April  i6th,  1844. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Hull  sixty-nine  persons 
were  received  on  examination,  and  six  on  certificate.  This 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      209 

gives  a  larger  average  yearly  than  were  received  by  Mr. 
Clarke,  but  It  must  be  remembered  that  our  statistics 
for  Mr.  Clarke  only  Included  Am  well  First,  w^hile  for 
Mr.  Hull  there  was  the  added  territory  of  this  congre- 
gation and  that  of  Clover  Hill  to  draw  from.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  number  given,  twenty-six  were  received,  or 
rather  transferred  from  Clover  Hill  at  the  time  of  the 
union  of  the  two  churches.    When  the  Rev.  David  Hull 

came  to  the  church  the  membership  was 88 

Received   by   him  on   examination 69 

Received   by  him  on  certificate 06 

Transferred   from   Clover   Hill 26 

189 

From  these  dismissed  to  other  churches. 16 

Leaving    173 

But  there  were  some  persons  suspended  from  member- 
ship by  discipline,  and  others  removed  by  death,  of  which 
we  do  not  have  the  record;  nor  do  we  have  the  report 
for  1844,  Mr.  Hull's  last  year.  The  report  for  1843 
gives  the  membership  as  168.  This  is  doubtless  too 
large.  Inasmuch  as  this  occurs  in  all  our  churches,  that  In 
a  short  time  names  of  persons  will  be  found  on  the  rec- 
ords who  have  moved  away  without  taking  their  letter 
of  dismission  with  them,  or  who  otherwise  disappear. 
But  in  the  absence  of  a  more  accurate  statement  we  ac- 
cept 168  as  proximately  correct. 

We  have  noticed  the  several  efforts  made  of  the  Ses- 
sion to  secure  contributions  for  the  work  of  beneficence 
by  this  united  church,  and  while  there  was  a  better  sys- 

14 


2IO  AM  WELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

tern,  it  does  not  appear  that  there  was  much  advance  in 
contributions.  We  give  them  for  only  the  year  of  1843, 
as  in  this  particular  the  records  are  very  deficient.  For 
this  year  we  find  the  contributions  for  beneficence  as  fol- 
lows: Domestic  Missions,  $9;  Foreign  Missions,  $15; 
education,  $10;  miscellanious  causes,  $50;  commission- 
ers and  contingent  fund  each  one  dollar. 

Of  Mr.  Hull  personally  a  brief  statement  should  be 
added.  The  record  given,  bears  evidence  of  his  industry. 
A  part  of  his  pastorate  he  resided  in  his  own  house,  which 
I  understand  was  where  Mrs.  Stout  Servis  now  resides. 

He  is  spoken  of  by  members  of  this  church  with  inter- 
est and  evident  appreciation.  A  brother,  not  in  this 
church,  has  described  him  to  me  as  "a  spiritually  minded 
man." 

David  Hull  was  born  near  Milton,  Pa.,  June  8th, 
1806.  He  graduated  from  Jefferson  College  in  1832. 
He  studied  theology  at  Princeton  for  a  little  more  than 
two  years.  He  was  ordained  as  an  evangelist  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Northumberland,  January  15th,  1836.  Hav- 
ing been  invited  by  the  Session  of  this  church  in  March, 
1837,  to  visit  the  church  and  preach  as  a  candidate,  he 
came  soon  after  and  filled  the  pulpit  for  several  Sab- 
baths. The  congregation  met  April  14th  and  agreed  to 
ask  for  his  appointment  as  a  stated  supply.  He  was  re- 
ceived by  the  Presbytery  of  Raritan,  April  25th,  1837, 
from  the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland,  and  appointed 
supply  for  the  next  six  months. 

He  was  pastor  of  the  First  English  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Amwell  from  November  23rd,  1837,  until  April  i6th, 
1844.     He  was  stated  supply  at  Nippenose,  Pa.,  from 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      211 

'44-'45.  He  was  stated  supply  at  Pennsdale,  Pa.,  in 
1846,  and  pastor  until  1848;  was  pastor  at  Shamokin 
and  Elysburg  from  1848  to  1852;  pastor  at  Lycemery 
Centre  from  1855  to  i860;  stated  supply  again  at  Penns- 
dale from  1 86 1  to  1862;  agent  and  missionary  at  Co- 
gan's  Station  from  1863  to  1867;  stated  supply  at  St. 
Mary's  from  1868  to  1870;  stated  supply  at  Dewart 
from  1868  to  1872;  resided  at  Williamsport  in  poor 
health  for  several  years  and  died  at  Alexander,  Arkansas, 
August  1 2th,  1886.  Thus  ends,  after  a  varied  experience 
and  many  labors,  the  life  of  one  who  was  with  you  as  pas- 
tor, teacher  and  comforter  in  time  of  great  changes  in 
the  history  of  your  church. 

THE   NINTH   PASTOR,   REV.   BENJAMIN   CARRELL^ 
1844— 1859. 

By  the  resignation  of  Rev.  David  Hull  the  church  was 
once  more  without  a  pastor.  The  Session  met  at  Green- 
ville, July  6th,  1844,  ^r^d  elected  George  F.  Wilson 
Chairman.  The  elders  present  were  John  Hagaman, 
John  P.  Quick,  Peter  P.  Young,  Jacob  Nevius,  Peter  C. 
Schenck  and  George  F.  Wilson. 

William  Waldron  was  nominated  by  the  unanimous 
vote  of  the  Session  for  the  office  of  deacon.  Due  notice 
of  this  nomination  was  given  for  two  Sabbaths,  and  no 
objection  to  him  being  made  the  Session  confirmed  the 
nomination,  and  he  was  set  apart  and  ordained  to  that 
office  on  the  first  day  of  July. 

The  church  having  been  vacant  for  six  months  the  con- 
gregation was  convened  by  the  Session  September  9th, 
1844,  and  was  moderated  by  the  Rev.  Jacob  Kirkpatrick, 


212  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

D.  D.  The  congregation  proceeded  to  vote  ifor  a  pas- 
tor, when  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Carrell  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Huntingdon,  Pa.,  and  pastor  of  the  churches  of 
Waynesburg  and  Newton,  was  unanimously  elected. 

Mr.  Carrell  being  present  signified  his  willingness  to 
accept  the  call,  which  was  made  out  for  his  pastoral  ser- 
vices, with  a  salary  of  $500  per  year,  the  same  as  was 
given  to  Mr.  Hull.  He  was  received  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Raritan  which  met  at  Greenville,  November  26th, 
1844,  and  the  call  put  into  his.  hands  and  accepted  by 
him.  The  Presbytery  then  proceeded  to  install  Mr.  Car- 
rell as  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  and  con- 
gregation of  Amwell.  In  this  service  Rev.  James  M. 
Olmstead  preached  the  sermon.  The  Rev.  Samuel  F. 
Porter  presided  and  proposed  the  constitutional  questions. 
The  Rev.  P.  O.  Studdiford,  D.  D.,  gave  the  charge  to 
the  pastor,  and  the  Rev.  Jacob  Kirkpatrick,  D.  D.,  the 
charge  to  the  people. 

The  Session  held  its  first  meeting  with  Mr.  Carrell 
as  Moderator,  November  30th,  1844.  A  singular  thing 
for  a  first  meeting  then  occurred.  A  charge  of  unchris- 
tian conduct  was  laid  against  a  member  of  the  church. 
He  was  brought  before  the  Session,  acknowledged  his 
offence,  professed  repentance,  and  promised  to  be  more 
on  his  guard  in  the  future.  He  was  admonished  by  the 
Moderator,  and  thus  the  case  was  dropped. 

We  now  call  attention  to  some  matters  of  interest  per- 
taining to  the  congregation,  though  it  may  here  be  re- 
marked that  during  Mr.  Carrell's  pastorate  very  little 
beyond  regular  routine  business  was  transacted,  either  by 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820-1900      213 

the  congregation  or  the  Session.  The  Trustees  elected 
in  February,  1844,  chose  John  E.  Holcombe  as  President 
and  Treasurer,  which  office  he  held  continuously  by  re- 
election, of  course,  until  1856. 

The  Trustees  during  this  period,  as  far  as  the  rec- 
ords show,  were  in  1847;  three  new  ones  elected,  viz: 
Jacob  Y.  Quick,  Zebulon  Stout  and  Reading  Smith; 
March  24th,  1851,  the  Board  elected  was  John  E.  Hol- 
combe, Paul  K.  Dilts,  Zebulon  Stout,  John  Quick,  Rob- 
ert R.  Smith,  N.  Wilson  Young  and  John  L.  Bellis; 
March  27th,  1852,  the  Board  was  John  E.  Holcombe, 
John  Sharp,  Zebulon  Stout,  John  Quick,  Robert  R. 
Smith,  David  Y.  Bellis  and  William  Sheppard;  March 
lOth,  1853,  we  have  John  E.  Holcombe,  John  Sharp, 
John  Quick,  John  Y.  Bellis,  Jacob  F.  Prall,  Ketenus 
Young  and  David  Bellis;  March  8th,  1855,  the  Trus- 
tees elected  were  John  E.  Holcombe,  Jacob  Van  Derveer, 
Gideon  Quick,  John  W.  Phillips,  P.  Prall  Quick,  John 
Schenck  and  Derrick  Sutphin;  in  1856  we  have  as  the 
Board,  Ralph  Sutphin,  Gideon  Quick,  Jacob  K.  Van  Der- 
veer, John  W.  Phillips,  P,  P.  Quick,  Dr.  Simeon  S. 
Dana  and  Derrick  Sutphin.  Of  the  meeting  that  chose 
this  Board  Peter  C.  Schenck  was  Chairman  and  John 
E.  Holcombe  Secretary.  Peter  P.  Quick  was  elected 
President  of  the  Board  and  Treasurer;  March  i8th,  1857, 
the  Board  chosen  was  Gideon  Quick,  Jacob  K.  Van  Der- 
veer, Caleb  F.  Quick,  James  P.  Chamberlin,  Zebulon 
Stout,  Derrick  Sutphin  and  John  Y.  Bellis.  Of  this 
Board  Jacob  K.  Van  Derveer  was  made  President  and 
Treasurer;  March  20th,  1858,  the  Trustees  elected  were 
Gideon  Quick,  Jacob  K.  Van  Derveer,  Zebulon  Stout, 


214  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Derrick  Sutphin,  John  Y.  Bellls,  Jacob  W.  Nevius  and 
William  B.  Prall;  March  26th,  1859,  the  Board  of  the 
previous  year  was  re-elected,  with  Mr.  Van  Derveer  Pres- 
ident and  Treasurer  in  both  cases. 

Returning  now  to  the  records  of  the  Session  we  gather 
the  following  facts 

February  15th,  1845.  The  Session  received  into  the 
membership  of  the  church  on  certificate  Edward  L.  and 
Rachel  S.  Reed,  Mrs.  Mary  S.  Carrell,  wife  of  pastor, 
and  Mrs.  Rhoda  Quick. 

May  31st.  On  certificate:  Garret  Schenck  and  Ann, 
his  w^ife,  Dr.  George  P.  Rex  and  Gertrude,  his  wife,  were 
received  on  certificate  from  the  North  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Philadelphia;  on  examination,  Ketenus  Young 
and  Mrs.  Ellen  Jane  Case,  wife  of  John  Case. 

September  17th,  1845.  On  certificate:  Miss  Maria 
Nevius,  wife  of  Gilbert  Van  Camp,  and  Mrs.  Catharine 
Schomp,  wife  of  Jacob  Nevius,  Jr. 

January  loth,  1846.  On  examination:  Mrs.  Ann 
Schenck,  wife  of  Peter  C.  Schenck,  Mrs.  Anna  Maria 
Van  Marter,  wife  of  William  Van  Marter,  and  Mrs. 
Hannah  Nevius,  wife  of  Lanning  Nevius,  and  Miss  Sa- 
rah Hagaman. 

At  this  meeting  the  following  action  was  taken:  "The 
Session  feels  called  upon,  in  the  Providence  of  God,  to 
record  the  death  of  Elder  John  P.  Quick,  who  departed 
this  life  December  30th,  1845,  in  the  76th  year  of  his 
age,  and  adds,  he  was  a  good  man  of  humble  piety.  By 
his  death  the  Session  and  the  whole  church  have  sustained 
a  serious  loss." 

April  9th,    1846.     Received  on   examination:     Jacob 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      215 

Q.  Spadin,  William  Sheppard,  Nelson  Warner,  Hannah 
Prall,  Susan  Stout,  Rebecca  Young,  Mary  Waldron,  Leah 
Hoagland,  John  Y.  Bellis,  Elizabeth  Ann  Bellis,  Thomas 
Wilson,  Susanah  Wilson,  Josiah  Young  and  Mary 
Young.     Six  of  these  had  not  been  baptized. 

April  nth,  1846.  John  Phillips,  Martha  M.  Phillips, 
Nathaniel  Wilson  Young,  John  Van  Ess,  Jacob 
F.  Quick,  Christianna  Quick,  John  Quick,  Fran- 
ces Quick,  Albertus  Bird,  Lucretia  Bird,  Sarah 
Ann  Bird,  Catharine  Griggs,  Ellen  Schenck,  Theo- 
dosia  Schenck,  Mary  Nevius,  Catharine  Holcombe,  Sarah 
Catharine  Norman  and  Elizabeth  Myers.  Thirteen  of 
these  were  admitted  to  both  sacraments.  Also  the  fol- 
lowing persons  of  color,  viz :  James  Williamson,  Charles 
Wilson,  Catharine  Hagaman  and  Catharine  William- 
son. 

September  19th,  1846.  Miss  Hannah  Bowman,  and 
on  certificate,  Mrs.  Jane  Sheppard,  wife  of  William  Shep- 
pard, and  Mrs.  Eleanor  Knouse. 

April,  1847.  On  examination:  Isaac  Young  and 
Sarah  Kinney,  wife  of  Hankinson  Kinney. 

August  29th,  1847.  On  certificate  from  the  Baptist 
Church  in  Ovid,  N.  Y.:  Mr.  Waterman  Thomas.  Al- 
so on  certificate:  Mrs.  Maria  Johnson  and  Mrs.  Ann 
Quick,  wife  of  Abraham  Quick. 

April  8th,  1848.  On  examination:  John  Brown  and 
Mrs.  Sarah  Jane  WyckofF,  wife  of  John  WyckoflE;  on 
certificate:     Mrs.  Ann  Brewster. 

August  19th,  1849.  On  certificate:  Miss  Elizabeth 
Young. 

November  19th,  1849.    On  examination:    Mrs.  Oath- 


2i6  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

arine  D.  Stryker,  wife  of  Alexander  Stryker,  and  Miss 
Elizabeth  Little. 

April  14th,  1849.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Young,  wife  of 
Ketenus  Young;  on  certificate:  ^Garret  Schenck  and 
Ann,  his  wife,  and  their  daughters,  Ellen  and  Theodosia; 
also  Mrs.  Maria  Lanning,  Mrs.  Peter  Case  and  Dinah, 
a  woman  of  color. 

August  nth,  1849.  On  certificate:  Obadiah  Howell 
Hayard. 

April  3rd,  1852.  On  examination:  Abram  Young 
and  Clarinda,  his  wife,  Mary  Wood,  Harriet  Atkinson, 
Mary  West,  Anna  Higgins,  Sarah  D.  Young,  Sarah 
Holcombe  and  Mary  Graff,  and  on  certificate,  Mrs.  Eliz- 
abeth Chamberlin,  wife  of  Prall  Chamberlin. 

September  25th,  1852.  On  examination:  Miss  Le- 
titia  Wilson. 

October  29th,  1852.  Elder  George  F.  Wilson  who  had 
served  the  church  as  elder  since  1831,  and  Clerk  of  the 
Session  since  1836,  requested  for  himself  and  his  wife,  a 
letter  of  dismission  to  the  Amwell  United  First  Church. 

March  21st,  1853.  The  Session  decided,  after  fre- 
quent deliberation,  to  call  a  meeting  of  the  church  at 
Reaville,  April  14th,  1853,  in  order,  if  the  way  be  clear, 
to  elect  additional  persons  to  the  eldership  oi  the  church. 
In  this  minute  we  have  the  first  mention  in  our  records 
of  the  name  Reaville.  The  previous  minutes  for  many 
years  had  been  headed  Greenville,  and  before  that  simply 
Amwell. 

On  account  of  severe  storm  April  14th,  the  meeting 
appointed  adjourned  without  further  action  to  the  30th 
of  April  for  the  election  of  elders.    But  the  Session  met 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      217 

April  1 6th,  when  Andrew  Alpaugh  and  Mrs.  Julia  Dana 
were  received  on  certificate. 

The  church  met  April  30th  at  the  call  of  the  Ses- 
sion and  elected  the  following  persons  to  the  office  of 
Ruling  Elder,  viz:  John  E.  Holcombe,  William  Wal- 
dron  and  Ralph  Sutphin.  These  persons  were  set  apart 
and  ordained  to  this  sacred  office  May  29th,  1853. 

September  24th,  1853.  Received  on  certificate:  Jo- 
seph C.  Huff  and  Margaret  Ann,  his  wife. 

Peter  C.  Schenck, 

Clerk, 

May  13th,  1854.  On  examination:  Jacob  K.  Van 
Derveer,  Peter  Case,  Clarinda  Labaw  and  Sarah  Labaw. 

October  20th,  1854.  Miss  Ellen  Young,  daughter  of 
Josiah  Young. 

April  14th,  1855.  Horace  Nelson,  and  on  certificate, 
Cornelius  Wyckoff  and  Sarah  V.,  his  wife. 

The  Session  at  this  date  records  the  death  of  John 
W.  Bell  is,  one  of  the  deacons  of  this  church,  who  de- 
parted this  life  in  March,  1855,  in  the  73rd  year  of  his 
age,  in  whose  death  the  church  has  sustained  a  serious 
loss. 

September,  1855.  On  examination:  Martha  Ellen 
Nevius,  wife  of  Christian  Nevius. 

February  17th,  1856.  Elder  John  Hagaman,  who  had 
served  the  church  as  elder  since  1822,  requested  a  certifi- 
cate of  dismission,  as  he  was  about  to  remove  to  the  State 
of  Illinois. 

June  6th,  1857.  Received  on  certificate:  Mrs.  Mary 
Hudnut  and  Mrs.  Alpaugh. 


2i8  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

April  20th,  1858.  On  certificate:  Mr.  John  Soms 
and  wife. 

The  Session  "records  the  death  of  Jacob  Nevius,  Sr., 
one  of  the  elders  of  this  church,  who  departed  this  life 
(day  not  given)  in  1857,  ^t  the  advanced  age  of  86.  He 
died,  calmly  trusting  in  his  Redeemer." 

October  loth,  1858.  Received  on  examination:  Mrs. 
Sarah  Parker,  wife  of  William  Parker. 

January    28th,    1859.      On    examination:      Jacob    S. 

Prall  and  Rebecca,  his  wife,  James  P.  Foote  and  Miss 

Hannah  Soms,  and  on  certificate,  Miss  Lewis  Chamber- 

lin,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Stout  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  C.  Dun- 

•gan. 

April  3rd,  1859.  The  pastor  announced  to  the  Ses- 
sion his  intention  to  apply  to  Presbytery  on  the  12th  of 
April,  to  dissolve  the  pastoral  relation  between  himself 
and  the  Church,  and  requested  the  Session  to  call  a  meet- 
ing of  the  congregation  to  hear  his  statement  and  appoint 
commissoiners.  The  Session  met  the  afternoon  of  the 
same  day  at  Reaville  and  took  the  following  action,  viz: 

"The  Session  is  called  upon  in  the  Providence  of  God  to 
record  the  death  of  Elder  John  E.  Holcombe,  who  de- 
parted this  life  on  the  17th  day  of  February,  1859,  in 
the  51st  year  of  his  age.  The  deceased  was  eminently  a 
good  man.  As  a  leader  of  song  in  the  church,  as  Super- 
intendent of  the  Sabbath  School,  as  a  regular  attendant 
on  the  prayer  meetings,  as  a  useful  member  of  the  church 
and  society  where  his  example  was  always  on  the  side 
of  virtue  and  religion,  he  will  be  greatly  missed." 

Well  might  they  exclaim  at  the  death  of  such  a  man, 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      219 

"Help,  Lord,  for  the  Godly  man  ceaseth,  for  the  faithful 
fail  from  the  children  of  men." 

"The  Session  also  records  with  gratitude  the  fact  that 
the  contributions  to  missionary  purposes  have,  for  the  last 
two  years,  doubled  those  of  former  years,  and  we  believe 
this  is  owing  to  the  faithfulness  and  increased  energy  with 
which  the  pastor  has  urged  the  duty  of  beneficence  upon 
all  the  professed  followers  of  Christ." 

I  am  sure  any  pastor  would  prefer  a  testimony  of  the 
faithfulness  to  duty  like  that  to  the  formal  resolutions  of 
compliment  and  regret,  which  are  often  passed  by  congre- 
gations under  similar  circumstances. 

The  congregation  assembled  at  Reaville  on  the  5  th  of 
April,  1859,  at  the  call  of  the  Session;  heard  the  pas- 
tor's statement  of  his  purpose  to  tender  his  resignation, 
and  requested  the  appointment  of  commissioners  to  join 
him  in  the  request  to  Presbytery  in  this  matter.  Peter 
P.  Young  and  William  Waldron  were  appointed  as  com- 
missioners to  Presbytery.  The  Presbytery  of  Raritan  on 
hearing  the  request  of  the  pastor  and  commissioners,  did 
on  the  1 2th  day  of  April,  1859,  at  Frenchtown,  dissolve 
the  pastoral  relation  existing  between  the  Rev.  Benjamin 
Carrell  and  the  First  English  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Amwell. 

As  we  have  gathered  from  the  records  of  Session,  there 
were  received  into  the  membership  of  the  church  during 
Mr.  Carrell's  pastorate,  extending  from  1844  to  1859: 

On  examination    70 

On  certificate    38 

Making  a  total  of 108 


220  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

There  was  an  the  roll  when  Mr.  Carrell  came.  ...    i68 


Making 276 

Dismissed  to  other  churches 29 

Leaving  as  the  actual  roll 247 

The  church  reported  to  Presbytery,  however,  only.    150 

To  account  for  the  difference,  several  were  removed  by 
discipline,  there  being  eleven  cases  of  discipline  during 
this  pastoral;  many  others  were  removed  by  death,  but 
not  recorded.  To  these  is  to  be  added  that  from  year 
to  year  members  move  away  vdthout  taking  their  letters, 
and  so  lose  their  membership.  This  doubtless  occurred 
here. 

The  church  reported  for  1850  a  total  membership  of 
180.  In  1853,  168,  in  1855  160,  and  in  1856  and  1857, 
each  150.     Other  statistics  are  as  follows 

In  1853  Domestic  Missions  $17,  Foreign  Missions  $18, 
education  $28,  and  congregational  expenses  $2,000. 

In  1856  Domestic  Missions  $28,  Foreign  Missions  $30, 
education  $30,  congregational  $550. 

In  1857  Domestic  Missions  $24,  Foreign  Mission  $24, 
education  $20,  congregational  $700. 

In  1858  Domestic  Missions  $50,  Foreign  Missions  $40, 
congregational  $650. 

During  these  years  the  miscellaneous  contributions, 
which  included  gifts  to  the  Hunterdon  County  Bible  So- 
ciety, and  other  undenominational  work,  were  $70,  $100, 
$50  and  $40. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  the  mention  of  Elder  Hoi- 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      221 

combe  as  Superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  School  is  the 
first  time  the  word  "Sabbath  School"  is  found  on  the  rec- 
ords of  the  church.  The  report  to  Presbytery,  however, 
state  the  number  of  the  children,  which  implies  the  ex- 
istence of  the  Sabbath  School.  In  1857  the  number  was 
120,  and  in  1858,  125. 

Benjamin  Carrell  was  born  at  Tinicum,  Bucks  County, 
Pa.,  January  i6th,  18 10.  He  began  his  studies  in  prep- 
aration for  college  with  the  Rev.  P.  O.  Studdiford,  D. 
D.,  at  Lambertville,  N.  J.  He  entered  Union  College  in 
1832,  graduated  in  1834,  entered  Princeton  Theological 
Seminary  in  the  fall  of  1834,  graduated  in  1837.  He 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Second  Presby- 
tery of  Philadelphia  in  April,  1837;  was  transferred  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  and  installed  pastor  of 
Waynesburg  and  Newton  Hamilton,  October,  1838.  Dur- 
ing his  pastorate  of  these  churches,  there  was  a  most 
precious  revival  of  religion,  as  a  result  of  which  120  per- 
sons united  with  the  churches,  and  this  gracious  work  con- 
tinued until  the  church  at  Newton  Hamilton  was  filled  to 
overflowing.  He  was  installed  pastor  of  Amwell  First 
Church,  November,  1844,  and  resigned  April,  1859. 
Health  failing  he  removed  to  Lambertville.  In  1864  he 
became  stated  supply  of  Rosemont  and  Stockton,  in  which 
he  remained  until  1870;  was  stated  supply  at  Plumstead- 
ville.  Pa.,  from  '70  to  '72 ;  pastor  of  Kingwood,  N.  J., 
from  1873  to  1877.  In  infirm  health  he  removed  again 
to  Lambertville,  where  he  died  August  26th,  1881.  It 
was  my  privilege  to  be  acquainted  with  Mr.  Carrell.  He 
was  a  godly  man.  Sound  in  the  faith,  and  devoted  to 
the  Master's  cause.      His  voice  was  loud,  but  metalic 


222  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

rather  than  melodious,  and  his  manner  almost  oppres- 
sively solemn.  Here  again  in  our  walk  about  Zion  we 
have  seen  another  of  the  workmen,  now  laboring  in  the 
vineyard,  and  now  going  home  to  rest,  after  abundant 
labors  and  a  large  ingathering. 

THE  TENTH  PASTOR,  REV.  GEORGE  P.  VAN  WYCK, 
i860— 1862. 

Once  more  the  Church  was  without  a  pastor  and,  as 
usual,  the  pulpit  was  filled  by  supplies  who  were  members 
of  the  Presbytery.  This  state  of  things  continued  from 
April  to  the  end  of  the  year.  During  this  period  two  or 
three  candidates  were  heard.  One  of  these  was  Rev. 
George  P.  Van  Wyck.  He  was  chosen  as  the  next  pas- 
tor. A  special  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Raritan  was 
held  at  Lambertville,  N.  J.,  January  17th,  i860,  when 
the  Rev.  George  P.  Van  Wyck  was  received  as  a  mem- 
ber of  Presbytery  from  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  and 
the  call  of  the  Amwell  First  Church  was  placed  in  his 
hands  by  the  Presbytery.  The  call  being  accepted,  ar- 
rangements were  made  for  his  installation  at  Reaville, 
Tuesday,  January  31st,  i860. 

This  service  took  place,  as  thus  appointed.  At  this 
service  the  Rev.  Edwin  Town  preached  the  sermon  from 
n.  Cor.  4:1,  2.  The  Rev.  Jacob  Kirkpatrick  presided, 
proposed  the  constitutional  questions,  and  delivered  the 
charge  to  the  pastor,  and  the  Rev.  John  L.  Janeway  the 
charge  to  the  people.  On  the  27th  of  March  ensuing,  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  congregation  was  held.  Of  this 
meeting  Peter  C.  Schenck  was  Chairman,  and  Jacob  S. 
Frail   Secretary.     The  Trustees  chosen  at  this  meeting 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      223 

were  John  Quick,  John  L.  Case,  Zebulon  Stout,  William 
Sutphin,  John  H.  Phillips,  Jacob  W.  Nevius  and  Wil- 
liam B.  Prall.  John  L.  Case  was  chosen  President  and 
Treasurer. 

We  have  noticed  the  large  number  received  into  the 
membership  of  the  Church  during  the  pastorate  of  Mr. 
Carrell.  But  when  the  Session  came  to  gather  up  the 
statistics  of  the  Church  for  the  year  and  report  to  Pres- 
bytery in  April,  only  two  months  after  Mr.  Van  Wyck's 
installation,  the  report  shows  there  had  been  a  very  large 
falling  away  from  the  membership  of  the  Church. 

In  1859  the  Church  reported  150  members,  and  now, 
in  i860,  it  reports  only  106,  with  100  children  in  the 
Sabbath  School.  Very  few  of  the  collections  had  been 
taken  during  the  year  in  which  there  was.no  pastor. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  Session  under  Mr.  Van  Wyck, 
held  February  nth,  it  was  decided  to  observe  the  Sacra- 
ment of  the  Lord's  Supper  three  times  in  the  year,  and 
secondly,  "that  on  those  Sabbaths  on  which  the  pastor 
might  be  absent  for  recreation,  personal  business  or  church 
duties,"  the  Session  would  furnish  supplies  for  the  pul- 
pit. 

The  Session  received  into  Church  membership  March 
lOth,  i860,  on  certificate  Mr.  Edwin  Bartow  and  Mary, 
his  wife,  and  Mr.  Nathan  Solomon. 

September  21st,  i860.  Session  received,  on  examina- 
tion, Christopher  J.  Dillon  and  Catharine,  his  wife.  Miss 
Catharine  Sutphin,  Thomas  Hall  and  Jacob  Hall,  his 
brother,  and  on  certificate,  Mrs.  William  Bellis,  and  on 
the  22nd,  Mrs.  Jane  Y.  White,  widow. 


224  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

February  6th,  1861.  Session  received,  on  examination, 
Miss  Elizabeth  Young. 

The  Church  reported  in  April,  112  members;  120  in 
Sabbath  School ;  congregational  expenses,  $835 ;  contri- 
butions to  Domestic  Missions,  $25,  to  Foreign  Missions, 
$26,  and  miscellaneous,  $65. 

March  28th,  1862.  Received  on  certificate:  William 
S.  Higgins  and  Ellen  M.  Wolverton. 

Peter  C.  Schenck, 
Clerk, 

September  nth,  1862.  Session  convened  at  the  pas- 
tor's study.  Clover  Hill.  The  pastor  stated  that  in  con- 
sequence of  long  continued  sickness  during  the  Summer 
he  felt  unfitted  to  perform  the  duties  of  his  office.  The 
Session  thereupon  resolved  to  request  supplies  from  the 
Presbytery  that  the  pastor  might  obtain  rest  and  resto- 
ration to  health. 

October  13th.  The  pastor  informed  the  Session  that 
as  there  had  been  no  improvement  in  his  health  during  his 
vacation,  that  after  prayerful  consideration  of  the  mat- 
ter, he  thought  best  not  to  ask  Presbytery  for  supplies, 
but  to  dissolve  the  pastoral  relation,  and  requested  Ses- 
sion to  call  a  congregational  meeting  at  Clover  Hill  at  an 
early  day,  and  take  action  on  this  matter. 

The  congregation  was  called  to  meet  accordingly  Oc- 
tober 20th,  1862.  The  pastor  laid  before  the  meeting 
a  communication  in  which  he  expressed  the  strongest  at- 
tachment to  the  congregation  and  the  delight  he  had  ex- 
perienced in  his  labors  among  them,  but  that  he  felt  con- 
strained because  of  his  impaired  health  to  ask  the  Church 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1 820-1900      225 

to  unite  with  him  in  a  request  to  Presbytery  to  dissolve 
the  pastoral  relation  existing  between  them.  The  con- 
gregation replied  by  expressing  very  warm  affection  for 
the  pastor,  and  regret  for  the  necessity  which  leads  the 
pastor  to  seek  to  be  released  from  the  pastorate  of  this 
Church.  But  in  view  of  the  facts  the  congregation  agreed 
to  concur  in  this  request,  and  Messrs.  John  Quick  and 
Ralph  Sutphin  were  appointed  commissioners  to  lay  this 
action  before  Presbytery. 

Pursuant  to  this  action  the  Presbytery  of  Raritan,  dur- 
ing the  intervals  of  Synod  at  Rahway,  did,  on  the  22nd 
of  October,  1862,  dissolve  the  pastoral  relation  existing 
between  George  P.  Van  Wyck  and  the  First  English 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Amwell. 

The  Rev.  George  P.  Van  Wyck  was  born  at  Bloom- 
ingburg,  Sullivan  County,  New  York,  June  24th,  1821. 
He  was  prepared  for  college  at  the  academy  in  his  na- 
tive town.  He  graduated  at  Rutgers  College  in  1840, 
and  from  the  Theological  Seminary  of  the  same  place  in 
1843.  He  was  pastor  at  Port  Jervis  for  nine  years. 
Health  failing  he  went  South,  settled  in  Berlin,  Md., 
where  he  was  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  for  two 
years.  His  next  field  of  labor  was  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  where 
he  was  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

He  was  received  by  the  Presbytery  of  Raritan,  January 
17th,  i860,  and  installed  pastor  of  Amwell  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  January  31st,  i860.  The  pastoral  re- 
lation was  dissolved  October  20th,  1862. 

After  leaving  Amwell  he  entered  the  army  as  chaplain 
in  the  loth  Legion,  or  56th,  N.  Y.  Regiment,  and  con- 
tinued in  the  service  until  October,  1865.  He  was  after- 
15 


226  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

ward  called  to  take  charge  of  the  Church  in  Jamestown, 
N.  Y.,  but  declined.  He  accepted  an  appointment  as 
chaplain  in  the  Regular  Army  in  1867,  and  continued  in 
the  same  until  retired.  As  a  retired  officer  of  the  Army 
he  now  resides  at  Washington,  D.  C.  I  had  the  pleas- 
ure of  meeting  Mr.  Van  Wyck,  his  wife  and  son,  then  a 
young  man,  at  Milford,  Pa.,  during  our  vacation  in  1896. 
He  was  then  in  poor  health,  but  upon  learning  of  my 
residence  he  was  very  courteous  towards  us,  and  mani- 
fested very  great  interest  in  the  people  of  Amwell  among 
whom  he  had  labored  in  the  years  gone  by. 

While  the  Church  was  yet  vacant  the  Session  met  Oc- 
tober 25th,  1862,  and  received,  on  examination,  George 
Young. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  First  English  Presbyterian  con- 
gregation of  Amwell,  held  December  i8th,  1862,  it  was 
agreed  to  dissolve  the  union  that  had  existed  since  1840  be- 
tween what  had  been  the  Reformed  Church  at  Clover  Hill, 
and  the  Amwell  First  Church.  Of  this  meeting  our  rec- 
ords are  not  very  complete.  But,  as  we  learn  from  the 
minutes  of  the  Presbytery  of  Raritan,  a  meeting  of  that 
Presbytery  wa  sheld  at  Reaville,  at  the  call  of  the  Mod- 
erator, duly  made,  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  January, 
1863,  at  II  o'clock.  The  object  of  this  meeting,  as 
stated  in  the  call,  was  to  receive  and  act  on  the  applica- 
tion of  certain  members  in  full  communion  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Amwell,  praying  that  they,  with 
ruling  elders,  Peter  C.  Schenck  and  Ralph  Sutphin,  be  set 
oH  and  constituted  a  distinct  Church,  to  be  called  the 
Presbyterian   Church  of   Clover   Hill.     The   chair  was 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      227 

taken  at  this  meeting  of  Presbytery  by  the  Moderator, 
the  Rev,  Joseph  Rogers,  of  Frenchtown,  and  constituted 
with  prayer.  The  Moderator  stated  the  object  of  the 
meeting  as  set  forth  in  the  call.  A  petition,  signed  by 
thirty-four  (34)  members  in  full  communion  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Amwell,  praying  the  Presbytery 
to  constitute  them  into  a  distinct  Church  as  above  des- 
cribed, was  then  presented. 

Satisfying  evidence  was  given  to  Presbytery  that  at  the 
meeting  of  the  First  English  Congregation  of  Amwell, 
held  December  i8th,  1862,  it  was  voted  unanimously  to 
acquiesce  in  this  application  for  division  so  as  to  secure 
the  stated  services  of  a  pastor  in  each  house  of  worship, 
whereupon  the  Presbytery  resolved  that  the  prayer  of  the 
petitioners  be  granted,  and  that  they  are  herby  constituted 
a  separate  Church  to  be  called  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Clover  Hill,  and  that  Ruling  Elders  Peter  C.  Schenck 
and  Ralph  Sutphin  be  transferred  to  said  Church  at  its 
Session. 

Resolved,  Secondly,  That  the  name  of  the  Church  of 
Clover  Hill  be  added  to  the  roll  of  Presbytery.  That  this 
Church  thus  constituted  return  almost  immediately  to  the 
Reformed  Classis  of  Philadelphia,  is  what  it  had  a  right 
to  do,  and  what  was  expected. 

Thus  is  brought  to  a  close  a  union  that  had  been  formed 
with  the  best  of  motives,  and  which,  while  it  lasted,  was 
harmonious  and  mutually  beneficial.  And  now  that  we 
are  separated,  there  is,  and  has  been,  so  far  as  I  know, 
only  the  best  and  kindest  Christian  feeling  toward  each 
other.     So  may  it  ever  be! 


228  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

THE    ELEVENTH    PASTOR,    REV.    JOSHUA    B.    H.    JANEWAY, 

1863— 1864. 

The  union  of  the  congregations  of  Clover  Hill  and 
Reaville  having  been  dissolved  in  January,  1863,  the  Am- 
well  First  Church  was  for  the  third  time  alone  in  the 
support  of  a  pastor  and  for  its  appointed  work. 

The  Presbytery  of  Raritan  met  April  14th,  1863,  at 
the  United  First  Church  of  Amwell,  and  was  opened  with 
a  sermon  by  the  Rev.  William  R.  Glen.  In  the  absence 
of  the  Moderator  the  chair  was  taken  by  the  Rev.  Ben- 
jamin Carrell.  William  Waldron  was  the  elder  present 
from  Amwell  First. 

At  this  meeting  Mr.  Joshua  H.  Janeway,  a  licentiate 
of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  presented  a  certfi- 
cate  of  dismission  from  that  Presbytery,  and  was  received 
and  taken  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Raritan  as 
a  licentiate  for  the  gospel  ministry.  Mr.  William  Wal- 
dron and  Mr.  Gideon  Quick  being  present  as  commis- 
sioners from  Amwell  First  Church,  presented  a  call  for 
the  pastoral  services  of  Mr.  Janeway.  The  salary  prom- 
ised Mr.  Janeway  was  five  hundred  dollars  per  annum. 
The  call  was  found  in  order  and  placed  in  Mr.  Janeway '3 
hands.     He  signified  his  willingness  to  accept  the  same. 

The  Presbytery  then  proceeded  to  his  examination  with 
a  view  to  his  ordination.  His  examination  being  sustained 
Presbytery  made  arrangemnts  for  his  ordination,  and  for 
his  installation  as  pastor  of  Amwell  First  Church,  to  take 
place  May  7th,   1863. 

On  the  day  appointed  for  this  service,  Presbytery  met 
at  Reaville.     The  Moderator  being  absent  the  chair  was 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      229 

taken  by  the  Rev.  Jacob  Kirkpatrick,  D.  D.  The  elder 
present  from  Amwell  First  was  Peter  P.  Young.  Pres- 
bytery then  proceeded  to  ordain  Mr.  Janeway  and  in- 
stall him  pastor  of  the  Amwell  First  Church.  In  this 
service  the  Rev.  Thomas  L.  Janeway,  D.  D.,  father  of 
the  candidate,  for  installation,  preached  the  sermon.  Dr. 
Kirkpatrick  presided  and  proposed  the  constitutional  ques- 
tions. The  Rev.  James  Lewers  gave  the  charge  to  the 
pastor,  and  the  Rev.  John  Burrows  the  charge  to  the 
people.  The  elders  of  the  Church  when  Mr.  Janeway 
began  his  labors,  were  William  Waldron  and  Peter  P. 
Young.  The  Trustees  were  John  Quick,  Zebulon  Stout, 
John  H.  Phillips,  John  H.  Williamson,  William  B. 
Prall,  William  Sutphin  and  Jacob  S.  Prall.  Of  the  con- 
gregational meeting  held  March  21st,  1863,  electing  these 
officers:  Peter  P.  Young  was  Chairman,  and  Jacob  S. 
Prall,  Secretary.  Jacob  S.  Prall  was  also  elected  Presi- 
dent and  Treasurer  of  the  Board. 

At  the  congregational  meeting  held  March,  1864,  Mr. 
Anthony  L.  Case  was  chosen  Chairman  and  Dr.  Prall 
Secretary.  The  Trustees  elected  were  the  same  as  in 
1863,  excepting  that  Caleb  F.  Quick  and  James  P.  Cham- 
berlin  were  chosen  in  place  of  Dr.  Jacob  S.  Prall  and 
William  B.  Prall. 

Caleb  F.  Quick  was  elected  President  and  Treasurer 
of  the  Board,  to  which  office  he  was  annually  re-elected 
until   1875. 

Turning  to  the  membership  of  the  Church  at  this  time 
we  find  that  Rev.  Mr.  Van  Wyck  had  reported  to  Pres- 
bytery, in  April,  1862,  only  one  hundred  and  twenty-two 
members  in  the  United  Church.     This  is  given  in  the 


230  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

minutes  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  shows  a  most  mar- 
vellous disappearance  of  members  as  received  and  reported 
by  Mr.  Carrell.  Their  dismissal,  either  by  letter  or 
discipline,  is  not  recorded,  except  in  a  few  cases.  Hence 
a  large  number  of  members  recently  received  must  have 
been  dropped  in  order  to  purge  the  roll  of  unfaithful  or 
non-attending  members.  This  forces  on  us  the  conclu- 
sion that  the  revival  of  previous  years  had  been  followed 
with  a  painful  reaction,  resulting  in  a  low  state  of  piety. 

In  keeping  with  this  the  Assembly's  minutes  show  that 
during  the  year  ending  April,  1862,  only  thirty  dollars 
were  contributed  to  the  Boards  of  the  Church  by  Am- 
well  First,  and  fifty  dollars  to  miscellaneous  causes,  pre- 
sumably to  the  American  Bible  Society. 

When  the  union  between  Clover  Hill  and  Amwell 
First  was  dissolved,  thirty-four  members  were  dismissed 
to  the  reorganized  Church  of  Clover  Hill,  leaving  for  this 
Church   eighty-eight. 

In  April,  1863,  and  previous  to  Mr.  Janeway's  instal- 
lation, this  Church  reports  one  hundred  and  twenty  mem- 
bers, which  is  a  larger  number  than  the  thirteen,  whose 
names  are  recorded  on  our  minutes,  as  received,  will  make. 

This  was  a  year,  during  which  the  Church  was  largely 
without  a  pastor.  The  contributions  of  the  Church  to 
benevolence  for  the  year  was  only  seven  dollars,  which 
was  given  to  the  Fund  for  Disabled  Ministers. 

These  two  years  were  at  the  time  when  prices  of 
produce  were  high  and  money  was  plenty,  and  yet  the 
beneficence  of  the  Church  fell  to  its  lowest  ebb.  Our  rec- 
ords do  not  show  what  service  Mr.  Janeway  rendered  the 
Church  before  he  formally  accepted  the  call,  April  14th, 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      231 

1863,  but  they  show  that  as  pastor-elect  he  moderated 
the  meeting  of  Session,  April  4th,  when  twelve  of  the 
thirteen  members  referred  to  above  were  received  on  ex- 
amination. The  names  of  these  twelve  persons  are  Mrs. 
Ellen  Rea,  Martin  J.  Bellis,  Mrs.  Martha  R.  Holcombe, 
Mrs.  Ann  Sutphin,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Schenck,  Mrs.  Mary 
Conover,  Mrs.  Sarah  Ann  Hall,  Mrs.  Sarah  Conover, 
Mrs.  Mary  M.  Williamson,  Lewis  Sutphin,  Joseph  C. 
Harrison  and  Levi  Holcombe. 

From  April  14th,  1863,  when  reports  were  presented 
to  Presbytery  to  April,  1864,  the  following  persons  were 
received  into  the  membership  of  the  Church. 

July  nth.  On  examination:  Mrs.  Van  Horn,  Mrs. 
Eliza  Young,  Miss  Sallie  A.  Quick,  Mrs.  Jenny  Quick, 
Joseph  Brown,  Joseph  Titus,  Mrs.  Rachel  Foot,  Mrs. 
Henrietta  Priestly,  Mrs.  Caroline  Williamson,  Mrs.  Mary 
Wilson,  Miss  Delilah  Martindale,  Miss  Rebecca  Voor- 
hees,  Miss  Isabella  Wood,  Miss  Cornelia  Cortelyou,  Mrs. 
Madelin  Brown,  Miss  Farnces  Drake.  On  certificate: 
Thomas  Reeder  Snook,  and  Sarah  E.,  his  wife,  and  Mr. 
Abraham  S.  Stone  and  Mrs.  Lydia  A.  Stone. 

November  14th.  Received  on  examination:  Oliver 
Phillips,  Miss  Anna  Augusta  Cortelyou,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Smith,  Jonathan  B.  Higgins,  Mrs.  Mariah  Higgins.  Re- 
ceived on  certificate:  John  H.  Johnson,  Mrs.  Mary 
Johnson,  his  wife,  and  Miss  Sarah  Johnson. 

February  27th,  1864.  Received  on  examination:  Mrs. 
Ann  Higgins  and  Miss  Mariah  V.  Higgins.  And  on  cer- 
tificate, Levi  C.   Littell. 

March    5th.     Received   on   examination:    Miss   Mar- 


232  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

garet  Young,  Jacob  Dilts,  Mrs.  Jane  Ann  Dilts,  Miss 
Mary  Ann  Dilts. 

March  12th.  Received  on  examination:  Mrs.  Re- 
becca Stout,  Mrs.  Matilda  Robins,  Mrs.  Mary  Brown, 
Mrs.  Mary  Chamberlain,  Mrs.  Eleanor  LaRue,  Mrs. 
Jamima  Johnson,  Miss  Debora  LaRue,  Miss  Mary  Jane 
Voorhees,  Miss  Georgiana  Haight.  And  on  certificate: 
Robert  W.  Hunt  and  Mrs.  Ellen  S.  Hunt,  Gideon  Stout 
and  Mrs.  Eliza  Stout. 

March  20th.  Received  on  certificate:  John  Wyckoff 
and  Mary,  his  wife,  and  Mrs.  Mary  Ball,  their  daughter. 

July  the  9th.  Received  on  examination:  Mrs.  Sarah 
Mariah  Todd,  Mrs.  Louisa  Waldron,  Mrs.  Anna  E. 
Hudnut  and  Miss  Rebecca  E.  Mattison.  This  is  the  last 
minute  in  our  records  entered  by  Mr.  Janeway.  The  pas- 
torate of  Mr.  Janeway,  which  began  so  auspicously  and 
continued  up  to  this  time  so  full  of  blessing  to  the 
Church,  terminated  in  sorrow. 

During  this  summer  Mrs.  Janeway  sickened  and  died. 
Under  this  bereavemnt  Mr.  Janeway  felt  that  he  could 
not  remain  and  continue  his  labors  alone,  where  he  had 
enjoyed  the  help  and  companionship  of  his  endeared  wife. 
He  tendered  his  resignation  and  his  action  being  laid  be- 
fore Presbytery,  the  pastoral  relation  between  himself  and 
this  Church  was  dissolved  September  6th,  1864.  During 
this  brief  pastorate  fifty-two  persons  were  received  into 
the  Church  on  examination  and  fifteen  on  certificate. 

It  is  pleasant  also  to  add  to  these  unusually  large  ad- 
ditions to  the  membership  of  the  Church,  a  very  decided 
advance  in  the  benevolent  contributions  of  the  Church, 
yet  the  figures  show  that  the  Church  after  doing  almost 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      233 

nothing  for  some  years,  could  not  be  brought  up,  at  once, 
to  a  fair  standard  of  its  duty.  Total  membership  re- 
ported was  133;  membership  of  Sabbath  School,  120; 
total  benevolent  contributions  for  the  year,  $96. 

I  have  gone  over  these  records  of  Mr.  Janew^ay's  pas- 
torate here  vs^ith  especial  Interest,  because  he  and  I  were 
friends  and  classmates  at  Princeton  College,  graduating 
in  1857.  We  were  also  in  the  Seminary  together,  though 
not  In  the  same  class,  as  he  did  not  enter  the  Seminary 
until  one  year  after  leaving  college.  He  came  of  a  min- 
isterial family,  his  father  and  grandfather,  both  being 
clergymen,  and  both  men  of  prominence  in  their  day. 
Mr.  Janeway  seems  to  have  Inherited  gifts  which  fitted 
him  for  the  ministry,  and  his  connection  with  this  Church 
shows  how  well  he  applied  himself  to  the  work  in  hand. 
His  genial  manner,  his  faithful  work  and  his  deep  afflic- 
tion all  combined  to  endear  his  memory  to  this  Church. 
A  brief  record  of  his  career  will  be  heard,  I  am  sure,  with 
interest  to  this  Church. 

Mr.  Janeway  was  born  at  Rahway,  N,  J.,  In  1837. 
He  graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  In  1857. 
He  received  the  title  of  Ph.D.  from  Princeton  in  i860, 
and  graduated  from  the  Seminary  In  1861.  He  was  or- 
dained by  the  Presbytery  of  Rarltan,  May  7th,  1863,  and 
on  the  same  day  installed  pastor  of  Amwell  First  Church. 
The  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved  September  6th,  1864. 
After  leaving  Reavllle  he  went  under  appointment  of  the 
Christian  Commission  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and 
later,  he  entered  the  service  of  the  arm  yas  chaplain  of  the 
85th  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteers. 

When  he  left  the  service  his  health  was  greatly  Im- 


234  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

paired  by  a  severe  attack  of  malarial  fever.  Recovering 
his  health  in  some  measure,  he  accepted  a  call,  condi- 
tionally, to  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Chambersburg, 
Pa.,  w^hich  he  served  as  pastor-elect  for  about  a  year. 
When  he  returned  the  call  because  his  health  did  not  al- 
low him  to  continue  in  the  w^ork.  In  1868  he  received 
a  call  to  the  Second  Church  of  Cranberry,  N.  J.,  but  the 
state  of  his  health  again  required  him  to  tender  his  resig- 
nation within  a  year. 

In  1875  he  became  the  Secretary  and  Actuary  of  the 
Presbyterian  Annuity  and  Life  Insurance  Company  at 
Philadelphia.  Leaving  Philadelphia  in  1880  he  went  to 
Colorado  in  another  business  capacity,  while  at  the  same 
time  seeking  the  restoration  of  his  heatlh.  He  resided 
at  Denver,  Col.,  at  Emporia,  Kansas,  and  San  Diego, 
California,  for  several  years. 

In  1889  he  was  teaching  in  New  York  City.  Since 
that  time  he  has  studied  medicine  rather  to  gratify  a  taste 
than  to  change  his  profession,  nevertheless  he  still  resides 
in  New  York  and  is  practicing  medicine  as  opportunity 
presents. 

It  is  evident  from  the  facts  stated  that  Mr.  Janeway's 
most  important  ministerial  work  was  done  in  the  short 
time  that  he  was  pastor  of  this  Church. 

THE  TWELFTH  PASTOR,  REV.  N.  L.  UPHAM, 
1865— 187I. 

The  Rev.  Nathan  L.  Upham,  who  married  Miss  An- 
nie Howell  Janeway,  sister  of  Rev.  Joshua  H.  Janeway, 
was  the  next  pastor  of  this  Church.  Mr.  Upham  was 
installed  pastor  of  this  Church  the  second  Tuesday  of 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      235 

June,  1865.  He  began  his  labors,  however,  much  earlier, 
as  we  find  him  moderating  a  meeting  of  Session,  March 
1 2th,  1865,  when  Mr.  Levi  C.  Littell  was  granted  a  let- 
ter of  dismission.  In  the  call  given  to  Mr.  Upham,  the 
congregation  engaged  to  pay  him  seven  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars,  payable  in  two  equal  payments. 

The  elders  of  the  Church  at  the  time  of  Mr.  Upham*s 
call  were  Peter  P.  Young  and  William  V.  Waldron,  the 
same  as  served  the  Church  while  Mr.  Janeway  was  pas- 
tor. 

The  congregational  meeting  held  March,  1865,  with 
Mr.  Zebulon  Stout  as  Chairman,  and  Mr.  C.  F.  Quick 
Secretary,  elected  as  Trustees  John  Quick,  Zebulon  Stout, 
John  H.  Phillips,  John  H.  Williamson,  James  P.  Cham- 
berlin,  William  Sutphin  and  Caleb  F.  Quick.  These 
Trustees  were  re-elected  in  1866  and  in  1867. 

In  1866  Mr.  A.  L.  Case  was  Chairman  of  the  con- 
gregational meeting,  and  in  1867  Mr.  Gideon  Quick  was 
chosen  to  that  office. 

In  1868  Mr.  John  H.  Williamson  was  made  Chairman 
of  the  congregational  meeting,  and  the  Trustees  elected 
were  John  H.  Williamson,  Asher  Higgins,  John  Y. 
Bellis,  Abraham  J.  Prall,  William  Sutphin,  John  Quick 
and  Caleb  F.  Quick. 

March,  1869,  Mr.  Anthony  L.  Case  was  chosen  to 
preside  over  the  congregational  meeting.  The  following 
persons  were  elected  Trustees,  viz:  Robert  R.  Smith, 
Asher  Higgins,  John  Y.  Bellis,  Abraham  J.  Prall,  Lewis 
Sutphin,  John  Quick  and  Caleb  F.  Quick. 

The  same  Board  was  chosen  in  1870,  excepting  the 
election  of  Jacob  F.  Quick  in  place  of  John  Quick. 


236  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

In  1 87 1,  John  Y.  Bellis  was  chosen  to  preside  over  the 
congregational  meeting.  The  Trustees  elected  were  John 
Y.  Bellis,  Wiliam  B.  Prall,  Lewis  Sutphin,  Lewis  C. 
Case,  Robert  R.  Smith,  John  T.  Hudnet,  and  Caleb  F. 
Quick. 

Mr.  Upham's  pastorate  began  under  the  most  favora- 
ble financial  conditions  the  church  had  ever  known,  and 
these  continued  until  its  close.  Many  changes  and  im- 
provements took  place  during  this  period.  Some  of  which 
were  of  lasting  benefit  to  the  Church. 

Steps  were  taken  to  enlarge  the  eldership  as  early  as 
September  i8th.  October  7th  due  notice  having  been 
given,  John  H.  Johnson,  Jacob  S.  Prall  and  Jacob  Voor- 
hees  were  elected  to  the  office  of  Ruling  Elder,  and  Oc- 
tober 22nd  was  appointed  for  their  ordination  and  instal- 
lation, which  appointment  was  carried  out. 

Monday,  January  ist,  1866.  The  Session  met  and  dis- 
tricted the  congregation,  assigning  a  part  to  each  elder, 
and  agreed  to  make  a  general  visitation  from  house  to 
house  for  religious  conversation  and  prayer. 

May  5th.  The  Session  met  to  take  action  on  the  death 
of  Elder  William  Waldron,  which  occurred  April  3rd, 
1866.  In  this  action,  the  Session  expresses  a  sense  of  its 
own  bereavement,  and  that  of  the  Church,  by  the  death 
of  Elder  Waldron.  It  extends  its  sympathy  to  his  fam- 
ily and  friends,  and  testify  to  his  faithful  Christian  life 
for  more  than  twenty  years. 

November  17th,  1867.  The  Session  met  to  take  sim- 
ilar action  in  regard  to  Elder  Young.  That  action  is  as 
follows:  "Peter  P.  Young  united  with  this  Church  in 
1829,  when  thirty-five  years  of  age.     He  left  us  for  the 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      237 

'fellowship'  above  on  the  30th  of  October,  1867,  making 
thirty-eight  years  of  consistent  Christian  life,  thirty-six  of 
which  were  spent  in  the  eldership,  with  good  results  to 
us  and  the  Church." 

February  23rd,  1868.  Elder  Jacob  S.  Prall  was 
granted  a  certificate  to  the  Second  Reformed  Church  of 
Somerville,  to  which  place  he  had  moved. 

These  losses  in  the  eldership  were  followed  with  a  con- 
ference by  the  Session  January  26th,  1870,  with  refer- 
ence to  securing  additional  members  to  the  Session,  and 
also  the  propriety  of  choosing  a  board  of  deacons.  The 
Session  decided  to  recommend  both  measures  to  the 
Church,  but  before  they  were  carried  out  the  death  of 
Elder  Jacob  Voorhees  occurred. 

The  precise  day  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Voorhees  is  not 
given,  but  it  was  announced  on  Sabbath,  February  13th, 
1870,  at  which  notice  was  given  of  his  funeral. 

The  election  of  elders  and  deacons  took  place  accord- 
ing to  previous  arrangement,  and  the  expressed  desire  of 
Mr.  Voorhees  during  his  sickness,  on  the  26th  day  of 
February.  The  following  persons  were  on  this  day  nom- 
inated and  unanimously  elected,  viz:  To  the  office  of 
elder,  Zebulon  Stout,  William  Hill  and  Irenaeus  R.  Glen, 
M.  D.  To  the  office  of  deacon,  Abraham  J.  Prall,  Lewis 
Sutphin,  John  Quick,  Martin  J.  Bellis,  Jonathan  Hig- 
gins  and  Joseph  C.  Harrison.  These  persons  were  set 
apart  by  ordination,  and  installation  to  their  respective 
offices,  March  20th,  1870.  The  Session  met  March  24th 
and  passed  the  following  tribute  to  the  life  and  character 
of  Elder  Voorhees: 

"We  desire  to  express  our  sense  of  loss  sustained  by  the 


238  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Church  and  by  the  Session  in  the  death  of  Elder  Jacob 
Voorhees.  This  loss  is  the  more  keenly  felt  because  lat- 
terly his  health  had  improved,  and  he  had  become  more 
than  ever  useful.  And  yet  w^e  cannot  but  rejoice  with 
the  family  and  the  Church,  that  he  was  spared  to  us  so 
long,  being  over  three  score  and  ten  years  of  age,  of 
which  more  than  forty  years  were  given  to  us  in  the  faith 
and  work  of  Christ.  We  remember,  too,  with  special 
thankfulness  that  he  could  die  in  sleep.  It  must  have 
been  a  great  relief  to  him  who  had  known  so  much  of  suf- 
fering, 'to  sleep  in  Jesus  and  be  blessed.'  " 

The  Session  received  the  following  persons  into  the 
membership  of  the  Church  during  Mr.  Upham's  pastor- 
ate: 

April  2nd,  1865.  On  examination:  Miss  Pauline 
Meyers. 

April  8th.     Mrs.  Augustus  Young. 

May  1st.  Irenaeus  R.  Glen,  M.  D.,  was  received  by 
certificate. 

July  29th.  Edward  I.  Smith  was  received  on  exam- 
mation,  and  on  certificate  Mrs.  Martha  W.  Voorhees, 
Mrs.  Annie  H.  Upham,  Mrs.  Mary  Elizabeth  Wyckof?, 
Mrs.  Martha  Smith,  Mrs.  Christiana  Hiner  and  Wil- 
liam Q.  Hiner. 

October  28th.  On  examination:  John  Emilie  Hol- 
combe  and  Mrs.  Holcombe,  his  wife. 

January  28th,  1866.  Session  received  William  H.  Lan- 
ning  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Lanning. 

May  6th.  On  examination:  Mrs.  Harrison  Sutphin 
and  Miss  Amanda  Quick. 

July  28th.    Miss  Catherine  Quick  and  Miss  Caroline 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      239 

Johnson,  and  on  certificate,  Mrs.  William  J.  Huffman 
and  Mrs.  E.  Rynearson. 

November  loth.     Mrs.  Sarah  Pyatt,  on  examination. 

February  3rd,  1867.  Mrs.  Margaret  B.  Van  Bleet, 
Miss  Sarah  Housel.  On  certificate,  Col.  John  H.  Sut- 
phin,  Mrs.  Dr.  Irenaeus  R.  Glen,  Miss  Augusta  Case. 

May  4th.  On  examination,  Mrs.  Mahlon  Higgins, 
Mrs.  Stout  Servis,  Abram  J.  Prall  and  his  wife,  Mrs. 
Prall. 

August  17th.  On  certificate,  John  Wilson  and  his 
wife,  Charles  Wilson  and  his  wife,  William  G.  Hill  and 
Mrs.  Rebecca  Ann  Hill. 

August  18.     On  examination,  Miss  Mary  Dalrymple. 

November  17th.  Mrs.  Miller  R.  Reading,  Miss  Mary 
Catherine  Hartsel,  Miss  Susan  Anna  Packer  and  Wil- 
liam C.  Ball,  and  on  certificate,  J.  T.  Hudnut. 

February  23rd,  1868.  On  examination,  William  B. 
Prall  and  his  w'fe,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Prall,  and  Miss  Car- 
oline Rodenbaugh. 

May  24th.  Miss  Anna  Housel,  Mrs.  Mary  Crouse, 
Mrs.  Mary  Conover,  Levi  Housel  and  Edward  Lanson. 
On  certificate,  John  J.  Marsh  and  Mrs.  Mariah  Marsh. 

December  26th.     Miss  Rebecca  Huffman. 

June  26th,  1869.  On  certificate,  Mrs.  Martha  Skill- 
man  Holcombe. 

September  25th.     On  examination,  Miss  Louisa  Cole. 

October  31st.     Jerry  Bristow  (colored). 

January  30th,  1870.  On  examination.  Miss  Jane 
Hagins,  Miss  Mary  Ann  Thomson,  and  on  certificate, 
Mrs.  Rebecca  B.  Hageman. 

April   9th.     On   examination,   Henry   H.    Hageman, 


240  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Miss  Carrie  Hill,  Miss  Mary  C.  Reed,  and  on  certifi- 
cate,   Mrs.    John   Williamson. 

June  19th.  Jacob  H.  Wessels,  Albert  Case,  and  Mrs. 
Mary  Jennings  Crocker  from  Wesleyan  Methodist 
Church  near  Plymouth,  England. 

April  8th,  1871.     On  certificate,  Mrs.  John  P.  Quick. 

October  14th.  Dr.  George  P.  Rex  and  Mrs.  Ger- 
trude Rex  from  Presbyterian  Church,  Selma,  Alabama. 

Summing  these  up  we  have  thirty-seven  persons  re- 
ceived into  the  membership  of  the  Church  on  examination, 
and  twenty-nine  on  certificate,  or  sixty-six  additions  to  the 
Church  during  the  six  and  one-half  years  of  Mr.  Up- 
ham's  pastorate.  And  yet  so  great  had  been  the  number 
of  removals  from  the  Church  by  death  and  dismission  on 
certificate  that  Mr.  Upham  reported  the  membership 
of  the  Church  less  by  four  at  the  close  of  his  pastorate 
than  when  he  began. 

And  even  this  number  (134)  was  larger  than  the  ac- 
tual membership  on  the  ground,  as  we  notice  at  the  open- 
ing of  the  next  pastorate  the  roll  was  still  further  re- 
duced. 

The  pastorate  of  Mr.  Upham  is  remarkable  for  the  bap- 
tism of  thirty-one  infant  children.  Also  for  the  death  of 
three  ruling  elders  and  for  the  election  of  six  elders  and 
six  deacons.  One  -elder.  Dr.  I.  R.  Glen,  was  dismissed 
to  the  Church  at  Pluckemin  at  the  close  of  Mr.  Upham's 
pastorate. 

But  no  one  thing  distinguished  this  short  pastorate 
more  than  the  fact  that  under  Mr.  Upham  the  very  com- 
fortable parsonage  was  built. 

In  the  Spring  of  1865  a  lot  was  purchased  of  Robert 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD~i 820- 1900      241 

R.  Smith  on  which  this  building  was  erected  during  the 
Summer.  The  cost  of  the  parsonage  was  about  $5,000, 
exclusive  of  a  large  amount  of  work  gratuitously  ren- 
dered  by   the   congregation. 

I  quote  with  full  concurrence  a  remark  by  Dr.  Blatten- 
berger,  that  the  building  reflects  credit  upon  the  liber- 
ality of  this  congregation.  It  would  be  an  ornament 
to  any  rural  village.  It  has  been  a  comfortable  home 
for  five  of  your  pastors  before  my  coming,  and  I  can 
testify  to  having  enjoyed  this  home  very  greatly  during 
these  years  of  my  ministry.  I  am  also  informed  that  the 
trees  on  the  lawn  were  selected  by  Mr.  Stout  and  Mr. 
Robbins,  and  that  Mr.  Robbins  had  the  selection  of  the 
maples;  he  took  great  pains  to  have  them  perfectly 
straight.  This  accounts  for  their  handsome  appearance. 
"These,  with  the  evergreens,  make  the  lawn  a  thing  of 
beauty." 

It  is  apparent  that  Mr.  Upham's  pastorate  had  an 
auspicious  beginning.  The  people  "had  a  mind  to  work," 
and  also  a  mind  to  give.  This  is  evident  from  the  liberal 
way  in  which  the  improvements  of  the  Church  were  made, 
and  from  their  generosity  to  the  pastor  himself.  It  was 
also  shown  by  their  wider  Christian  beneficence.  Mr. 
Upham  succeeded  beyond  any  former  pastor  of  the 
Church  in  developing  this  grace  of  Christian  beneficence, 
and  bringing  the  Church  into  full  accord  and  co-operation 
in  the  work  as  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly.  This 
shows  him  to  have  been  loyal  to  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
though  his  education  had  been  in  another  denomination. 

In  the  minutes,  as  kept  by  him,  we  find  for  the  first 

time  a  full  and  orderly  record  of  the  benevolent  work  of 
16 


M2  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

the  Church.  He  not  only  secured  contributions  to  the 
several  objects  specified  by  the  Assembly,  but  also  much 
for  outside  causes.  It  is  true  that  the  gifts  to  objects 
under  the  care  of  the  Boards  of  the  Church,  did  not  reach 
the  amounts  of  later  years,  yet,  if  we  include  the  sums 
given  to  miscellaneous  causes,  and  the  large  amounts  to 
the  American  Bible  Society,  the  total  sum  given  vv^ill 
nearly  equal  the  best  efforts  of  the  Church  in  Christian 
beneficence  in  later  years. 

And  this  vv^as  accomplished,  too,  before  the  days  in 
vv^hich  the  Christian  women  came  forward  in  personal 
effort  and  consecrated  means,  by  which  the  funds  of  the 
Church,  for  benevolent  work,  have  been  so  largely  in- 
creased. 

The  sum  total  of  contributions  to  the  Boards  of  the 
Church  during  the  six  years  of  Mr.  Upham's  pastorate, 
is  $595.79  being  a  yearly  average  of  $99.30.  The  largest 
of  the  single  contributions  was  $32,  twice  given  to  For- 
eign Missions,  and  the  next  highest  to  Home  Missions, 
$25.69.  These  are  much  below  our  present  gifts.  But  the 
contributions  to  education  and  ministerial  relief  had  a 
much  higher  average  than  they  do  now.  Contributions 
for  the  same  six  years  to  the  American  Bible  Society 
were  $361,  averaging  $60  a  year,  and  the  highest  for 
any  one  year  being  $73.  This  is  far  beyond  what  the 
Church  is  doing  to-day  for  this  blessed  cause.  The  gifts 
to  miscellaneous  causes,  including  such  objects  as  Howard 
Mission  American  Sunday  School  Union  Fund  for  Sea- 
men and  the  like  amounted  to  $113.87,  making  a  sum 
total  of  benevolence  of  $1,070.83,  or  a  yearly  average 
of  $178.44.     This  large  advance  in  beneficence  by  this 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      243 

Church  is  all  the  more  commendable,  because  it  was  at  the 
time  when  it  had  made  its  largest  gifts  for  its  own  sup- 
port and  improvement. 

The  exact  amount  of  money  expended  on  the  parson- 
age, as  shown  by  the  records,  was  in  1866,  being  $4,500, 
and  in  1869,  for  the  debt  on  parsonage,  $360,  making  a 
cash  cost  of  the  same  $4,860.  Then  we  have  in  1868, 
for  Church  repairs,  $400,  and  in  1869,  for  Session  Room 
and  Sunday  School  Library,  $137.  The  congregational 
expenses,  including  pastor's  salary,  ($750),  and  incident- 
als for  the  same  period  were  just  $6,000.  To  this  was 
added  for  four  of  these  years  cash  donation  to  the  pas- 
tor in  sums  ranging  from  $175  to  $317,  and  the  fifth 
year,  to  the  pastor's  wife,  $125,  making  in  all  $1,119. 
There  was  also  a  contribution  for  Sunday  School  Library 
and  a  poor  fund  of  $51.  This  brings  the  amount  ex- 
pended by  the  Church  for  its  own  work  during  these  six 
years  up  to  $11,448,  and  to  benevolence,  $1,070.83.  This 
is  the  best  showing,  financially,  in  the  Church's  history. 

Mr.  Upham  remained  in  charge  until  October  15th, 
or  six  months  after  his  last  report.  The  report  presented 
by  his  successors,  for  the  year  in  which,  each  had  been  in 
charge  for  a  part  of  the  year,  shows  that  the  beneficence 
of  the  Church  kept  well  up  to  the  standard  of  former 
years.  The  total  for  the  year  is  for  beneficence,  about 
$175,  and  for  Church  expenses  $1,152.  This  will  bring 
the  Church's  beneficence  for  the  seven  years  up  to  $1,250, 
and  for  its  own  work  and  improvements  to  $12,593. 

This  account  of  Mr.  Upham's  pastorate  may  well  be 
followed  with  a  brief  sketch  of  his  life.  The  Rev.  Na- 
thaniel L.  Upham  was  born  of  Christian  parents  at  Con- 


244  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

cord,  New  Hampshire,  in  1833.  He  prepared  for  col- 
lege at  Phillips'  Academy,  Andover,  Mass.  He  graduted 
at  Dartmouth  College,  N.  H.,  in  1853,  and  at  Andover 
Theological  Seminary  in  1858.  He  was  ordained  by  the 
Bennington  Congregational  Association  of  Vermont  to 
the  gospel  ministry  at  Manchester,  in  1859,  and  installed 
pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  in  that  place  at  the 
same  date.  After  serving  that  Church  for  two  years  he 
came  to  Flemington,  N.  J.,  and  took  charge  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  there  during  the  absence  of  pastor  Rev. 
John  L.  Janeway,  who  was  chaplain  of  the  30th  N.  J. 
Volunteers  during  the  nine  months'  service.  Mr.  Upham 
was  mustered  into  the  service  October,  1863,  and  made 
chaplain  of  the  35th  N.  J.  Volunteers.  He  was  received 
as  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Raritan  before  leaving 
for  the  army.  He  remained  in  the  service  until  he  came 
to  Reaville  early  in  1865.  He  was  installed  pastor  of 
this  Church  the  second  Tuesday  of  June,  1865,  and  re- 
mained as  pastor  until  October  15th,  1871. 

It  was  during  his  pastorate  in  1869  that  the  union 
between  the  old  and  new  school  branches  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  occurred,  and  that  the  special  meeting 
of  the  Synod  of  New  Jersey,  June  21st,  was  held.  At 
this  Synod  the  Presbytery  of  Raritan  was  dissolved, 
and  the  churches  comprising  it  divided  between  the  Pres- 
byteries of  Elizabeth,  of  Newton  and  New  Brunswick. 
Am  well  First  was  returned  to  New  Brunswick,  in  which 
it  had  been  a  member  from  the  time  of  its  organization  in 
1738  until  1 81 7,  when  the  Church  was  one  of  the  num- 
ber constituting  the  Presbytery  of  Newton. 

Mr.  Upham  was  led  to  tender  his  resignation  as  pas- 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      245 

tor  of  this  Church  because  of  impaired  health,  resulting 
from  sunstroke,  which  he  suffered  while  in  the  army. 
After  a  brief  rest  he  took  charge  of  a  new  enterprise  at 
Merchantville,  N.  J.,  remaining  there  for  ten  years,  but 
able  to  preach  but  one  sermon  each  Sabbath.  He  then  be- 
came Secretary  of  the  Presbyterian  Ministers'  Annuity 
Fund  in  Philadelphia.  He  left  this  position  after  several 
years  service,  and  accepted  the  position  of  Secretary  of 
the  Philadelphia  Tract  and  Mission  Society,  which  po- 
sition he  now  holds.  His  residence  is  in  Germantown, 
Pa.  In  connection  with  his  service  in  the  army  it  may  be 
remarked  that  four  of  the  pastors  of  this  Church  have 
been  army  chaplains.  Rev.  William  Kirkpatrick  in  the 
Indian  wars  in  colonial  times,  and  Revs.  Van  Wyck, 
Janeway  and  Upham  in  the  late  war  for  the  Union. 

THE  THIRTEENTH   PASTOR,  REV.   JOHN   H.  SCOFIELD, 
1872 1874. 

The  Rev.  John  H.  Scofield  of  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Brunswick  was  the  thirteenth  pastor  of  this  Church.  He 
moderated  a  meeting  of  the  Session  as  pastor-elect  as 
early  as  January  13th,  1872.  He  was  residing  at  French- 
town  at  his  wife's  home  at  the  time  of  his  call.  He  had 
been  for  some  time  without  charge  on  account  of  impaired 
health.  Mr.  Scofield  was  installed  pastor  of  this  Church 
by  a  committee  of  the  Presbytery,  February  20th,  1872. 
The  Rev.  Daniel  R.  Foster  preached  the  sermon,  pre- 
sided and  proposed  the  constitutional  questions.  The 
Rev.  George  S.  Mott  gave  the  charge  to  the  pastor  and 
the  Rev.  John  D.  Hewitt  gave  the  charge  to  the  people. 
The  Rev.  Samuel  Harrison  was  present  and  assisted  in 
these  services. 


246  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

The  elders  of  the  Church  at  this  time  were  John  H. 
Johnson,  Zebulon  Stout  and  William  G.  Hill. 

The  annual  congregational  meeting  was  held  March 
nth,  1872.  Lewis  Sutphin  was  Chairman  of  this  meet- 
ing, and  Caleb  F.  Quick,  Secretary. 

The  Trustees  elected  were  John  Y.  Bellis,  William 

B.  Prall,  Lewis  Sutphin,  Lewis  C.  Case,  Jacob  Quick, 
Caleb  F.  Quick  and  Robert  W.  Hunt. 

The  annual  congregational  meeting  held  March  loth, 
1873,  was  presided  over  by  Clinton  B.  Blackwell,  with 

C.  F.  Quick  as  Secretary.  The  Trustees  elected  were 
the  same  as  in  1872,  with  the  exception  that  Clinton  B. 
Blackwell  was  chosen  in  the  place  of  John  Y.  Bellis. 

At  this  meeting  a  vote  of  thanks  was  given  to  Joseph 
W.  Wood  for  presenting  and  securing  the  passage  of  a 
bill  by  the  Legislature,  by  which  the  parsonage  lot  and 
buildings  thereon  were  exempt  from  taxation,  and  for 
paying  the  necessary  expenses  of  the  same. 

The  Session  met  at  the  parsonage  April  13th,  1872, 
and  decided  to  take  action  for  adding  to  their  number. 
For  this  purpose  they  placed  in  nomination  for  the  office 
of  Ruling  Elder,  John  Y.  Bellis,  George  P.  Rex.  M.  D., 
and  Abraham  J.  Prall.  April  27th  was  appointed  for 
this  election.  Notice  of  this  action  was  given  from  the 
pulpit  on  the  following  Sabbath,  and  also  that  the 
Church  would  have  the  privilege  of  adding  to  the  num- 
bers, and  also  of  nominating  persons  for  the  office  of  dea- 
con. The  Church  assembled  accordingly  on  the  27th. 
No  additional  nominations  for  Ruling  Elder  being  made. 

It  was  resolved  to  take  the  vote,  "viva  voce,"  when 
John  Y.  Bellis,  George  P.  Rex,  M.   D.,  and  Abraham 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      247 

J.  Prall  were  unanimously  elected  to  the  office  of  Ruling 
Elder. 

The  Board  of  Deacons  then,  through  the  Moderator, 
placed  in  nomination  for  the  office  of  deacon,  Samuel  V. 
Conover,  William  B.  Prall  and  John  E.  Holcombe.  These 
persons  were  at  the  same  time  and  in  the  same  manner 
unanimously  elected  to  the  office  of  deacon.  After  the 
sermon  these  persons  were  ordained  to  their  respective  of- 
fices, by  prayer,  and  the  laying  on  of  hands.  The  Ses- 
sion at  once  convened,  and  the  newly-ordained  elders 
took  their  seats  in  the  Session.  The  deacons  were  in- 
vited to  confer  with  them.  The  subject  under  consider- 
ation was  a  plan  of  collections,  with  a  view  to  encourage 
systematic  beneficence.  This  matter  was  deferred  to  a 
future  time  for  action.  July  6th,  the  plan  presented  and 
adopted  was  to  take  a  collection  for  each  cause  recom- 
mended by  the  General  Assembly,  and  on  the  days  sug- 
gested by  the  Assembly.  On  all  other  Sabbaths  the  col- 
lections taken  were  to  supplement  the  deficiency  of  sub- 
scriptions for  incidental  expenses,  and  the  balance  to  be 
used  by  Session  for  beneficence.  But  there  was  friction  in 
the  working  of  the  plan,  and  in  November  it  was  decided 
to  divide  the  collections  taken  on  other  days  than  those 
devoted  expressly  to  the  causes  of  the  Boards,  equally  be- 
tween the  Trustees  and  the  Session.  The  subject  was 
up  for  further  consideration  and  improvement  of  the 
plan  at  the  April  meeting  following.  But  with  all  this 
conference  and  plan  there  was  no  advance  in  the  benefi- 
cence of  the  Church,  except  to  Foreign  Missions,  during 
the  last  year  of  this  pastorate,  while  the  gifts  to  other 
causes  were  decidedly  less  than  under  the  previous  pastor. 


248  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

This  effort  shows  that  the  subject  of  beneficence  is  not  an 
easy  one  to  handle  in  this  congregation.  The  following 
persons  were  received  into  the  membership  of  the  Church 
while  Mr.  Scofield  was  pastor 

March  30th,  1872.  On  examination:  Miss  Hannah 
M.  Rex,  Mrs.  Sarah  L.  Waters.  On  certificate:  Har- 
rison Sutphin  and  Caroline  Sutphin,  his  wife. 

March  ist,  1873.  On  examination:  Rachel  W.  Con- 
over,  John  Waters,  Peter  Quick  Holcombe,  Emma  So- 
phia Bellis,  Abraham  Prall,  Jr.,  Mrs.  Anna  Cornelia 
Prall,  Mrs.  Ara  Hill  Blackwell,  Mrs.  Catherine  Louisa 
McPherson  and  Miss  Hannah  M.  Sutphin. 

May  31st.  On  certificate:  Miss  Jeannette  McPher- 
son, Mrs.  Annie  E.  Crouse,  Samuel  H.  Hageman,  Mary 

C,  his  wife,  John  N.  Giles,  Sarah  C,  his  wife,  Aaron 
Auten  and  Sarah  M.,  his  wife. 

September  5th.     On  examination:     Miss  Caroline  V. 

D.  Case. 

October  4th.     Miss  Catherine  C.  Case. 

December  6th.     Mrs.  Susan  Hageman. 

January  31st,  1874.     Elizabeth  Ann  Hilyer. 

At  a  meeting  of  Session,  December  27th,  1873,  the 
pastor  informed  the  Session  that  he  had  received  a  call 
to  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Kingston,  N.  J.  After 
consideration  by  Session  the  pastor  was  advised  to  lay  the 
matter  before  the  congregation  on  the  next  Sabbath.  This 
was  done,  and  at  the  meeting  of  Session,  January  31st, 
1874,  it  was  decided  to  call  a  congregational  meeting 
"next  Monday,"  "to  take  such  action  as  may  be  deemed 
wise."  The  result  was  that  William  G.  Hill  and  Dr. 
George  P.  Rex.  were  appointed  commissioners  to  rep  re- 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820-1900      249 

sent  the  Church  at  the  meeting  of  Presbytery,  to  be  held 
at  Princeton,  February  3rd,  1874.  The  pastor  and  the 
commissioners  were  heard  at  this  meeting  and  the  pastoral 
relation  between  Rev.  John  H.  Scofield  and  the  Amwell 
First  Church  was  dissolved.  The  Session  obtained  leave 
to  supply  their  own  pulpit  until  the  next  stated  meeting 
of  Presbytery. 

The  Session  met  February  28th,  1874,  with  the  Rev. 
Robert  S.  Manning  as  Moderator.  Dr.  Rex  was  ap- 
pointed Clerk  of  Session.  It  appears  that  fifteen  persons 
were  received  into  the  membership  of  the  Church  on  ex- 
amination, and  ten  on  certificate  during  Mr.  Scofield's 
pastorate. 

The  records  also  show  that  during  this  pastorate  there 
were  frequent  meetings  of  the  Session  for  conference  and 
prayer,  seeking  thereby  to  promote  the  spiritual  condition 
of  the  Church.  It  is  also  evident  that  the  pastor  was 
zealous  in  labor,  and  in  counsel  to  increase  the  benefi- 
cence of  the  Church.  Earnest  efforts  of  his,  in  the  cause 
of  temperance  are  also  on  record.  The  Session  likewise 
united  in  a  strong  yet  tender  testimony  against  dancing, 
and  counseled  the  members  of  the  Church  "to  abstain  from 
this  practice  so  as  to  avoid  the  very  appearance  of  evil." 

During  this  pastorate,  as  already  stated,  three  new  mem- 
bers were  added  to  the  Session.  But  at  its  first  meeting, 
after  this  increase,  the  Session  was  called  upon  to  give  a 
letter  of  dismission  to  Elder  John  H.  Johnson,  who  had 
removed   from  the  congregation. 

Mr.  Upham,  at  his  last  report,  had  stated  the  mem- 
bership of  the  Church  at  134.  Within  two  months  after 
Mr.  Scofield,  his  successor  became  pastor,  the  annual  re- 


250  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

port  was  called  for.  The  Session  revised  the  roll  for  this 
purpose,  and  found  the  membership  on  the  ground  to 
be  only  112,  which  shows  the  usual  removals  and  losses 
to  have  taken  place.  And  two  of  these  had  been  received 
by  Mr.  Scofield  before  this  report  was  made.  In  the  fol- 
lowing year,  though  eleven  (11)  new  members  had  been 
received,  so  large  had  been  the  removals  by  death  and 
by  letter,  that  the  Church  could  report  but  109  mem- 
bers. And  in  the  following  year,  1874,  the  report  made 
out,  but  a  short  time  after  Mr.  Scofield  had  left,  though 
twelve  had  been  received,  such  had  been  the  losses  that 
the  membership  was  108. 

The  statistical  reports  for  the  two  years  of  Mr.  Sco- 
field's  pastorate  show  that  this  Church  contributed  to  the 
Boards  of  the  Church  for  1873,  $142,  and  $60  to  the 
Bible  Society,  being  a  total  of  $202.00,  and  in  1874  the 
contributions  to  the  Boards  were  $130,  and  $55  to  the 
Bible  Society,  being  a  total  for  beneficence  of  $185.00. 
With  this  very  creditable  showing  the  Church  contri- 
buted for  its  own  work  $1,970  in  1873,  of  which  $1,000 
was  for  the  pastor's  salary,  being  the  highest  as  yet  paid 
by  the  Church,  and  this  was  a  year  of  "hard  times,  too." 
The  pastor  also  received  $150  as  donation.  The  esti- 
mated rent  of  the  parsonage  was  $350,  and  $268  the  In- 
cidental expenses.  The  membership  of  the  Sabbath 
School  was  $150. 

In  1874  the  salary  continuing  to  be  $1,000,  the  do- 
nation was  $300,  rent  of  parsonage  rated  at  $350,  and 
expenses  of  Sabbath  School  $137,  and  incidental  expenses 
$160,  making  a  total  of  the  Church  for  its  own  work 
$1,947  for  the  year.     It  was  during  Mr.  Scofield's  pas- 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      251 

torate  that  the  Church  began  to  report  an  estimated  rent 
of  the  parsonage  as  a  part  of  its  money  raised  annually  for 
its  own  expenses.  This  custom  is  continued  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  I  believe  this  to  be  unwise,  and  even  without 
right;  without  right  because  the  cost  of  the  parsonage 
was  reported,  and  the  Church  had  credit  for  the  money 
paid  when  the  parsonage  was  built,  and  also  in  1869, 
when  a  small  balance  of  the  expense  on  the  same  was 
paid.  Having  thus  been  given  to  the  Lord,  the  Church 
has  no  more  right  to  credit  itself  with  interest  on  this 
money  than  it  has  to  credit  interest  on  any  other  money 
given  for  Church  or  benevolent  purposes.  It  is  entirely 
right  for  the  Church  to  say  it  pays  its  pastor  the  stated 
salary,  and  gives  him  the  free  use  of  the  parsonage,  which 
increases  his  salary  to  that  amount.  This  is  doubtless 
what  is  aimed  at. 

The  unwisdom  of  it,  beyond  the  fact  stated,  is  this, 
that  it  represents  the  ability  of  the  Church  for  benevo- 
lent work  to  be  greater  than  it  actually  is,  ,for  it  is  a 
recognized  principle  that  what  a  Church  is  able  to  do 
annually  for  its  own  work  becomes  a  safe  standard  of  its 
ability  to  do  for  work  outside  its  own  borders. 

It  now  remains  for  me  to  give  a  brief  sketch  of  Mr.  Sco- 
field's  life.  John  Henry  Scofield  was  born  at  Schuyler- 
ville,  N.  Y.,  1833.  He  graduated  at  Princeton  from  the 
College  in  i860,  and  from  the  Seminary  in  1863.  He 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  June  loth,  1862,  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Stillwater,  and  ordained  to  the  gospel  min- 
istry July  28th,  1863,  by  the  Presbytery  of  North  River. 
He  was  pastor  of  the  Church  at  New  Hamburg,  N.  Y., 
from  1863  to  1868;   pastor-elect  at  Dayton,  N.  J.,  '69- 


252  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

'70;  pastor  of  Amwell  First  from  1872  to  1874,  and  at 
Kingston,  N.  J.,  from  1874  to  1880.  In  this  pastorate 
at  Kingston  Mr.  Scofield  did  his  most  important  work, 
both  in  gathering  persons  into  the  membership  of  the 
Church,  and  in  promoting  the  cause  of  Christian  benefi- 
cence. One  hundred  persons  united  with  the  Church  at 
Kingston,  while  he  was  pastor  there,  of  whom  two-thirds 
were  received  on  examination. 

From  Kingston  Mr.  Scofield  went  to  East  Hampton, 
Mass.,  where  he  resided  from  '80  to  '84,  at  which  time  his 
sons  were  preparing  for  college.  He  was  not  engaged  in 
pastoral  work  at  this  time.  He  was  installed  pastor  of 
the  Mt.  Olive  Church,  in  the  Presbytery  of  Morris  and 
Orange,  May  29th,  1884.  He  continues  in  that  field  at 
the  present  time,  his  residence  being  at  Budd's  Lake,  N. 
J.  As  already  stated,  Mr.  Scofield  married  Miss  Ann 
Elizabeth  Hedges,  a  descendant  of  Governor  Reading. 
This  relationship  has  been  sufficiently  spoken  of  in  con- 
nection with  that  distinguished  family. 

THE  FOURTEENTH   PASTOR,  REV.  JOHN  S.  BEEKMAN, 
1875— 1878. 

After  the  pastoral  relation  between  Rev.  John  H. 
Scofield  and  the  Amwell  First  Church  was  dissolved,  the 
Presbytery  appointed  the  Rev.  R.  S.  Manning  to  declare 
the  pulpit  vacant  February  15th,  1874.  The  Session  met 
February  28th,  presided  over  by  Mr.  Manning.  Dr. 
George  P.  Rex  was  again  elected  Clerk  of  Session.  Dr. 
Rex  made  out  the  report  to  Presbytery  April  following. 
At  this  meeting  of  Presbytery  Dr.  George  S.  Mott  was 
appointed   Moderator  of  your  Session. 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820-1900      253 

At  the  meeting  of  the  congregation  April  27th,  1874, 
Caleb  F.  Quick  was  elected  Chairman,  and  Clinton  B. 
Blackwell,  Secretary.  The  Trustees  elected  were  Wil- 
liam Bellis,  William  B.  Prall,  Lewis  Sutphin,  Lewis 
Case,  Peter  Q.  Holcombe,  Caleb  F.  Quick  and  John  H. 
Williamson. 

The  congregation  engaged  the  Rev.  William  C.  Mac- 
beth as  a  stated  supply  for  the  pulpit  for  the  next  six 
months. 

Mr.  Macbeth  occupied  this  pulpit  a  few  Sabbaths  af- 
ter this  engagement  expired.  His  last  service  was  No- 
vember 8th.  The  Rev.  John  S.  Beekman  preached  here 
as  a  candidate  November  29th,  and  continuously  until 
January  3rd.  The  next  day — January  4th,  1875 — a  call 
was  made  for  the  pastoral  services  of  Mr.  Beekman,  which 
call  he  accepted.  The  salary  named  in  the  call  was  $900. 
He  was  installed  as  your  pastor  February  i6th,  1875,  by 
a  committee  from  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick. 
This  committee  consisted  of  Rev.  John  D.  Hewitt,  who 
presided,  preached  the  sermon,  and  proposed  the  consti- 
titutional  questions.  The  Rev.  C.  H.  Asay  gave  the 
charge  to  the  pastor,  and  the  Rev.  George  S.  Mott,  D. 
D.,  gave  the  charge  to  the  people. 

The  elders  at  this  time  were  Zebulon  Stout,  William 
G.  Hill,  John  Y.  Bellis,  Abraham  J.  Prall  and  George 
P.  Rex,  M.  D.  'March  6th  the  Session  met  and  re- 
ceived the  following  persons  into  the  membership  of  the 
Church.  On  examination:  Mrs.  Hannah  Wood,  widow 
of  James  W.  Wood,  and  Catherine  Van  Est  Sutphin,  wife 
of  William  Sutphin.  On  certificate:  Mrs.  Helen  B. 
Beekman  from  the  Reformed  Church  of  Metuchen,  and 


254  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Harriet  Mary  Williams  (colored),  from  the  same  place 

Received  April  19th.  On  examination:  Mrs.  Mary 
Elizabeth  Wortman  and  Miss  Selina  Bonnell  Wortman. 

October  23.  The  Session  arranged  for  a  series  of 
meetings  to  be  held  "previous  to  our  next  communion," 
and  to  begin  Wednesday,  December  ist. 

November  8th.  The  Session,  by  a  unanimous  vote, 
adopted  as  the  book  of  song  the  Presbyterian  Hymnal, 
which  is  still  in  use. 

The  Session  met  December  4th  and  received  into  the 
membership  of  the  Church  on  examination:  Miss  Eliza- 
beth C.  Sutphin,  and  Sunday  morning,  December  5th, 
John  K.  Shurts  and  Miss  Sallie  A.  Waters. 

February  4th,  1876.  The  Session  met  and  received 
into  the  communion  of  the  Church,  on  examination:  Wil- 
liam Deats,  George  S.  Davis,  William  Osborn  and  Moses 
Lapsley;  also  Miss  Hannah  M.  Hill,  Miss  Catherine 
Quicic,  Miss  Cassie  Rex  and  Miss  Mary  Fink. 

February  nth.  The  following  persons  were  received 
on  examination:  John  S.  Hoagland,  Jacob  Osborn,  Miss 
Juliette  Blanche  W.  Beekman,  Miss  Addie  H.  Prall, 
Miss  Mary  Quick,  Miss  Mary  D.  Hoagland,  Mrs.  Eliza 
Hill,  Mrs.  Martha  H.  Young  and  Mrs.  Esther  Ann 
Osborn. 

February  19th,  Miss  Luella  Stryker  and  John  W. 
Dalrymple. 

March  4th.  The  Session  received  the  following  per- 
sons into  Church  membership  on  examination,  viz:  Bar- 
ton Huffman,  David  B.  Huffman,  Lewis  Getherd  and 
Miss  Maggie  K.  Smith.     And  on  certificate:    Nathaniel 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      255 

G.  Wilson  and  Mrs.  Caroline  A.  Wilson,  his  wife,  and 
Mrs.  Sarah  V.  Pierce. 

At  the  communion  service  held  March  5th,  twenty- 
three  persons  who  had  been  received  on  examination  since 
February  4th,  made  a  public  profession  of  their  faith  in 
Christ,  of  which  number  twelve  were  baptized.  These, 
with  the  three  received  on  certificate,  gave  an  addition 
of  twenty-six  (26)  to  the  membership  of  the  Church. 
While  having  this  large  accession  to  the  membership  of 
the  Church,  the  Session  at  its  meeting  March  4th  took 
action  against  two  of  the  members  of  the  Church,  re- 
quiring them  to  abstain  from  the  communion  on  the  fol- 
lowing Sabbath.  The  reason  assigned  in  one  case  for 
allowing  gambling  on  his  premises,  against  which  he  had 
been  counseled  previously,  and  the  other  for  misconduct, 
for  which  there  had  been  as  yet  no  previous  action  taken. 

November  12th,  1876.  By  the  unanimous  action  of 
the  Session,  it  was  agreed  that  this  Church  would  be 
among  the  number  of  associated  and  adjacent  churches  to 
contribute  annually  to  the  support  of  any  missionary  that 
might  be  employed  either  by  the  Classis  of  Philadelphia, 
or  members  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  to  la- 
bor among  the  people  living  on  Sourland  Mountain.  This 
endeavor  was  put  into  successful  operation,  and  it  is  a 
matter  of  history,  effected  a  marvellous  change  for  the 
better  in  that  field. 

March  13th,  1877.  The  Session  received,  on  examina- 
tion, Millard  Farrow  and  Theodore  Todd.  These  were 
the  only  persons  received  into  the  Church  for  the  year 
ending  April  ist,  1877. 

June  2nd,  1877.     The  Session  received,  on  certificate, 


256  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Mrs.  Magdalene  Waldron,  Mrs.  Joanna  Farrow  and 
her  daughters,  the  Misses  Naomi,  Helen  and  Emma. 
These  four  came  from  the  Methodist  Church  in  New- 
ark, and  the  five  were  the  only  ones  received  during  the 
year  ending  April,  1878. 

During  the  first  year  of  Mr.  Beekman's  pastorate,  if  we 
extend  it  back  to  the  time  of  his  installation  in  Febru- 
ary, instead  of  beginning  with  April,  thirty  persons  v^re 
received  into  the  Church  on  examination  and  ten  on  cer- 
tificate. During  the  second  year  two  persons  were  re- 
ceived on  examination  and  none  on  certificate,  and  in  the 
third  year  five  w^ere  received  on  certificate  and  none  on 
examination.  The  total  number  received  during  this 
pastorate  was  thirty-two  on  examination  and  ten  on 
certificate,  or  forty-tv^^  in  all,  which  gives  a  higher  yearly 
average  of  additions  than  has  occurred  in  most  of  the  pas- 
torates. And  Mr.  Beekman's  first  year  ranks  among  the 
most  prosperous  in  the  Church's  history,  while  the  addi- 
tions during  the  second  and  third  years  place  the  record 
among  the  lowest.  We  should  remember,  however,  that 
it  is  a  very  common  experience  to  have  a  year  of  large 
ingathering,  followed  by  a  period  of  very  small  ingather- 
ing. This  has  been  true  here,  in  the  time  of  other  pas- 
tors, and  true  in  many  other  churches.  It  is  at  the  samt 
time  evident  that  these  last  two  years  of  Mr.  Beekman's 
pastorate  were  years  of  trouble  and  dissatisfaction.  The 
Session  had  on  its  hands  an  unusual  number  of  cases  of 
discipline.  In  some  of  these  the  persons  dealt  with  were 
suspended,  in  others,  explanations  were  accepted  as  sat- 
isfactory.    Finally,  however,   there  was  an  outbreak  of 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1 820-1 900      257 

unpleasant  feeling  between  members  of  the  Session  and 
the  pastor. 

The  "records  of  the  congregation,"  to  which  we  shall 
refer  in  speaking  of  their  action,  show  the  same  state  of 
feeling  to  have  existed  between  some  of  the  Trustees 
and  the  pastor.  This  trouble  had  the  usual  result,  viz: 
to  diminish  the  receipts  of  the  treasury. 

Justly  or  unjustly  this  uniformally  follows.  I  mention 
these  things,  not  to  take  sides  with  or  against  either  par- 
ty, but  in  giving  the  history,  to  be  true  to  "the  truth  of 
things."  The  "difficulty"  was  before  the  Session  for  de- 
liberation, where  it  properly  belongs,  if  it  must  be  at  all, 
as  early  as  September  14th,  1877.  At  this  time  the  pastor 
stated  his  willingness  to  tender  his  resignation,  to  take 
effect  not  later  than  the  first  of  April  next,  on  condition 
that  the  salary  due  him  be  paid,  and  that  he  may  have 
the  use  of  the  parsonage  until  needed  by  his  successor. 
This  proposal  was  finally  concurred  in  by  the  congrega- 
tion. This  was  stated  to  the  pastor  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Session  held  April  6th,  1878,  and  all  salary  due  him  up 
to  April  1st  was  paid  at  this  time,  and  receipt  given.  Mr. 
Beekman  then  requested  the  Session  to  call  a  meeting  of 
the  congregation  to  appoint  commissioners  to  Presbytery 
to  unite  with  him  in  a  request  for  a  dissolution  of  the 
pastoral  relation  existing  between  himself  and  the  Am- 
well  First  Church.  This  was  done  and  the  relation  was 
dissolved  by  Presbytery  at  its  meeting  held  a  few  days 
after  this  action. 

The  following  is  a  brief  record  of  the  meetings  of  the 

congregation  while  Mr.  Beekman  was  pastor: 

The  first  annual  meeting  of  the  congregation  following 
17 


258  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

the  installation  of  Mr.  Beekman  was  held  May  lOth, 
1875.  Of  this  meeting  William  G.  Hill  was  elected 
Chairman  and  Caleb  F.  Quick,  Secretary.  The  report 
of  the  Trustees  was  read  and  approved.  The  following 
persons  were  chosen  Trustees  for  the  ensuing  year,  viz: 
William  W.  Bellis,  William  B.  Prall,  Lewis  Sutphin, 
Jonathan  B.  Higgins,  Peter  Q.  Holcombe,  John  H.  Wil- 
liamson and  Martin  J.  Bellis.  Martin  J.  Bellis  was 
chosen  President  and  Treasurer  of  the  Board. 

The  annual  meeting  for  1876  was  held  on  the  loth 
of  March.  Clinton  B.  Blackwell  was  elected  Chairman 
and  C.  F.  Quick,  Secretary  of  this  meeting.  After  two 
adjourned  meetings  the  congregation  met  and  elected  the 
following  Trustees:  William  W.  Bellis,  William  B. 
Prall,  Lewis  Sutphin,  Lewis  C.  Case,  Peter  Q.  Holcombe, 
Halloway  Streeter  and  Martin  J.  Bellis.  Martin  J. 
Bellis  was  again  elected  President  and  Treasurer  of  the 
Board. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  congregation  was  called  for 
February  6th,  1877.  The  purpose  of  this  meeting  was 
stated  in  the  call  "to  consider  what  should  be  done  in 
order  to  raise  the  money  to  pay  the  salary  then  in  ar- 
rears." William  G.  Hill  was  elected  Chairman  of  this 
meeting  and  Clinton  B.  Blackwell,  Secretary.  The  Treas- 
urer reported  that  the  deficiency  in  salary  on  April  ist 
next  would  be  $216,  and  for  incidentals  $53.99.  Expla- 
nations were  called  for,  but  only  partially  given.  It  was 
then  moved  that  the  chair  appoint  a  committee  to  wait 
on  the  pastor  and  inform  him  that  the  congregation  could 
pay  him  only  $700  yearly. 

The  chair  decided  the  motion  was  out  of  Qr4erj  and 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      259 

refused  to  put  it.  It  was  then  moved  to  appeal  from  the 
chair,  which  motion  also  he  refused  to  entertain,  saying 
he  would  leave  the  chair  if  the  attempt  was  made  to  com- 
pel him  to  put  the  motion  before  the  meeting,  declaring 
the  motions  contrary  to  the  rules  of  Presbytery. 

The  motions  were  withdrawn  and  the  meeting  ad- 
journed. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  congregation  was  held 
April  7th,  1877.  William  G.  Hill  was  again  elected 
Chairman,  Calab  F.  Quick  was  chosen  Secretary.  Af- 
ter deliberation  the  meeting  adjourned  to  April  23rd. 
The  Treasurer  read  his  report,  which  showed  there  was 
yet  due  Mr.  Beekman  $258.55,  and  for  incidental  ex- 
penses $34-73- 

The  following  persons  were  chosen  Trustees,  viz :  Wil- 
liam B.  Prall,  Lewis  Sutphin,  Thomas  Miller,  Peter  Q. 
Holcombe,  Robert  R.  Smith,  HoUoway  Streeter  and 
John  Quick.  John  Quick  was  elected  President  and 
Treasurer  of  the  Board. 

A  meeting  of  the  congregation  was  called  January 
14th,  1878.  Of  this  meeting  George  P.  Rex,  M.  D.,  was 
chosen  President,  and  M.  J.  Bellis,  Secretary.  The  Treas- 
urer, Mr.  John  Quick,  stated  that  the  object  of  the  meet- 
ing was  to  consider  the  raising  of  $400,  the  sum  then  due 
the  pastor  and  some  current  expenses.  A  committee  was 
appointed,  consisting  of  A.  J.  Prall  and  Zebulon  Stout, 
and  as  the  records  show  the  money  was  secured. 

There  was  again  a  very  large  number  of  removals 
from  the  congregation  while  Mr.  Beekman  was  pastor, 
as  there  had  been  in  previous  years.  When  he  came  to 
the  Church  the  report  to  Presbytery  showed  108  mem- 


26o  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

bers  in  connection  with  the  Church.  Though  he  re- 
ceived 39,  yet  when  he  left  the  membership  was  105. 

We  regret  to  add  that  there  was  also  a  falling  off  in 
the  benevolent  contributions  of  the  Church,  during  the 
same  period.  During  the  first  year  1876  the  total  con- 
tributions to  the  causes  under  the  care  of  the  Boards  of 
the  Church  was  $99.46.  Of  this  amount  $56.00  were 
for  Foreign  Missions,  contributions  to  miscellaneous 
causes  and  for  incidentals,  amounted  to  $210.50.  As  the 
Church  had  uniformly  given  to  the  American  Bible  So- 
ciety, it  is  to  be  presumed  a  part  of  the  "miscellaneous" 
went  to  this  cause. 

In  1877  the  total  contribution  to  beneficence  is  $117, 
with  a  probable  contribution  of  $59  to  the  Bible  Society, 
as  that  is  the  amount  found  under  the  head  of  "miscel- 
laneous." In  1878  the  sum  total  was  $94,  with  a  pos- 
sible $50  to  the  Bible  Society.  The  total  amount  of 
congregational  expenses  for  the  congregation  for  these  three 
years  is  $3,54 1- 

It  is  one  of  the  pleasant  thing  to  be  stated  of  Mr. 
Beekman'  pastorate,  that  to  him  and  Mrs.  Beekman  be- 
longs the  credit  of  having  organized  the  Woman's  For- 
eign Missionary  Society  of  this  Church.  We  have  no 
record  of  this  organization  in  any  of  our  books.  And  all 
the  early  minutes  of  the  Society  are  lost.  But  I  learned 
the  fact,  in  my  researches  in  Philadelphia  in  behalf  of 
the  Church.  The  books  of  the  Woman's  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Society  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  kept  in  that 
city,  and  to  which  our  Society  reports  through  its  Pres- 
byterial  officers,  show  that  the  first  contribution  from  the 
Society  of  Amwell  First  Church  was  sent  in  1877.  This 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      261 

implies  that  our  society  was  organized  in  1876.  Mrs. 
Beekman  was  the  first  Secretary,  and  so  far  as  we  know 
the  late  Mrs.  Caleb  F.  Quick  was  the  first  Treasurer. 
The  amount  raised  the  first  year  by  this  society  was 
$28.25. 

Mr.  Beekman,  as  well  as  Mr.  Janeway,  was  a  class- 
mate of  mine  at  Princeton  College,  and  though  I  have 
not  met  him  since  he  was  pastor  of  this  Church,  I  have 
had  some  correspondence  with  him  about  matters  of  our 
class.  We  have  noticed  the  evidence  of  no  little  trouble 
during  his  connection  with  this  Church.  And  yet  he 
was  not  without  friends,  at  the  time  of  his  leaving,  nor 
without  enjoyment  while  here.  In  a  letter  received  from 
him  a  few  years  ago,  he  remarked  in  closing,  "it  seems 
strange  that  you  are  in  the  old  parsonage  where  I  spent 
many  a  happy  day." 

The  Rev.  John  StottofiE  Beekman  was  born  at  Middle- 
bush,  N.  J.,  Oct.  19th,  1833.  He  entered  Rutgers  Col- 
lege in  1853  and  passed  Freshman  and  Sophomore  years 
in  that  institution.  In  the  fall  of  '55  he  went  to  Prince- 
ton, entering  the  junior  class,  and  graduated  with  the 
class  in  1857.  He  spent  some  time  in  Union  Seminary, 
then  entered  Princeton  Theological  Seminary,  middle 
year,  class  of  1858,  and  remained  two  years.  He  was 
stated  supply  at  Livingston,  Alabama,  from  '60  to  '61. 
He  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Peoria,  111.,  June 
loth,  1863.  He  became  stated  supply  at  Farmington,  111., 
in  1862,  and  in  1863  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Church 
at  that  place,  remaining  until  1866.  He  was  installed 
pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  French  Grove,  111., 
in  1866,  and  served  the  Church  until  1869.     His  minis- 


262  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

try  here  was  marked  with  success,  both  in  the  growth  of 
the  Church  and  the  increase  of  beneficence.  He  next 
went  to  Paola,  Kansas,  where  he  labored  as  a  Home  Mis- 
sionary from  1869  to  1870.  He  came  East  and  was 
stated  supply  to  the  First  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of 
Somerset  from  1871  to  1874.  He  preached  as  a  candi- 
date here  in  Reaville  from  November  29th,  1874, 
until  January  3rd,  1875.  He  received  a  call  to  the  pas- 
torate of  this  Church  January  4th,  and  was  installed  pas- 
tor February  i6th,  1875.  The  pastoral  relation  was  dis- 
solved by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick  at  the  City 
of  New  Brunswick,  April  9th,  1878. 

From  Reaville  Mr.  Beekman  moved  during  the  Sum- 
mer to  Princeton  and  engaged  in  teaching  and  acting  as 
a  supply  to  vacant  pulpits.  While  in  Princeton  he  en- 
tered the  Episcopal  Church  as  a  "candidate  for  orders" 
in  that  Church.  From  Princeton  he  went  to  Florida 
and  received  ordination  at  Federal  Point,  Florida,  in 
1887.  He  served  the  Church  at  that  place  as  rector  from 
1886  to  1888.  He  was  rector  at  Green  Cove  Springs  in 
1888  and  1889.  I  lost  sight  of  him  then  for  a  short  time. 
In  1896  he  was  at  Datona,  and  in  1897,  when  I  last 
heard  from  him  he  was  rector  at  Sea  Breeze,  Florida. 

Mr.  Beekman  remained  at  this  place  until  his  work 
was  done.  A  local  paper  made  the  announcement  that 
the  Rev.  John  Stotoff  Beekman,  at  one  time  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Reaville,  died  at  Sea  Breeze, 
Florida,  July  nth,  1901,  aged  about  sixty-eight  years. 
I  never  had  the  pleasure  of  hearing  Mr.  Beekman  preach, 
but  he  was  a  good  scholar,  ranking  well  among  his  class- 
mates.    And  while  it  is  true  that  he  experienced  many 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1 820-1  goo      263 

difficulties  the  record  as  here  given  also  shows  gratifying 
achievement  for  the  Church  and  the  Master. 

THE   FIFTEENTH   PASTOR,   REV.   J.   W.   P.    BLATTENBERGER, 

1878— 1887. 

When  the  pastoral  relation  between  Mr.  Beekman  and 
this  Church  had  been  dissolved,  the  Presbytery  appointed 
the  Rev.  J.  T.  Osier  tp  preach  here  April  14th,  and  de- 
clare the  pulpit  vacant.  During  the  Summer  the  Church 
had  numerous  supplies  and  candidates.  Among  the  can- 
didates was  the  Rev.  J.  W.  P.  Blattenberger  who  preached 
for  the  first  time  in  the  Church  November  8th.  Mr.  Blat- 
tenberger filled  the  pulpit  again  on  the  15th,  the  22nd  and 
the  29th  of  December. 

A  congregational  meeting  was  called  November  25th, 
1878,  in  order  to  elect  a  pastor,  if  the  way  be  clear.  The 
Rev.  George  S.  Mott,  D.  D.,  moderated  this  meeting. 
Clinton  B.  Blackwell,  Esq.,  was  chosen  Secretary.  The 
meeting  decided  to  proceed.  The  Rev.  J.  W.  P.  Blat- 
tenberger of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Newark, 
N.  J.,  was  nominated.  Tellers  were  appointed  who  re- 
ported, on  counting  the  vote,  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Blatten- 
berger was  unanimously  elected  pastor  of  this  Church. 
It  was  then  decided  to  make  the  salary  seven  hundred 
dollars  yearly,  to  be  paid  semi-annually,  together  with  the 
free  use  of  the  parsonage,  while  he  should  be  the  pastor 
of  this  Church.  Mr.  Blattenberger,  at  the  time  of  this 
call,  was  a  member  of  the  Newark  Conference  of  the  M. 
E.  Church  and  pastor  of  the  Bergen  St.  Church  in  New- 
ark. It  was  therefore  decided  at  the  congregational 
meeting  making  the  call,  that  "this  call  should  be  placed 


264  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

in  Mr.  Blattenberger's  hands  if  he  unites  with  the  Pres- 
byterian Church;   if  not  this  call  will  be  null  and  void." 

Mr.  Blattenberger  was  received  by  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Brunswick,  December  15th,  1878.  The  call  of  Am- 
well  First  Church  was  tendered  to  Mr.  Blattenberger, 
and  accepted  by  him.  Arrangements  were  made  for  his 
installation  by  a  committee  from  Presbyter)%  The  day 
named  for  this  service  was  December  31st,  1878.  On 
the  day  appointed  the  committee  met  at  this  Church  and 
performed  the  duty  assigned  them.  In  this  service  the 
Rev.  Alexander  Miller,  of  Ringoes,  presided  and  pro- 
posed the  constitutional  questions.  The  Rev.  Peter  A. 
Studdiford,  D.  D.,  of  Lambertville,  preached  the  sermon. 
The  Rev.  George  S.  Mott,  D.  D.,  gave  the  charge  to  the 
pastor,  and  the  Rev.  Cornelius  Conklin,  of  Frenchtown, 
gave  the  charge  to  the  people.  The  elders  at  this  time 
were  Zebulon  Stout,  William  G.  Hill,  John  Y.  Bellis, 
Abraham  J.  Prall  and  George  P.  Rex.  M.  D.  Dr.  Rex 
had  been  appointed  Clerk  of  the  Session  at  a  meeting  held 
June  8th. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  congregation  was  held 
March  2nd,  1879.  C.  F.  Quick  was  chosen  Chairman, 
and  George  P.  Rex.  M.  D.,  Secretary.  The  report  of 
the  Treasurer  showed  a  deficiency  of  $113.74.  The  elec- 
tion of  Trustees  resulted  as  follows:  James  P.  Cham- 
berlin,  Lewis  Sutphin,  Thomas  Miller,  Peter  Q.  Hol- 
combe,  Robert  R.  Smith,  Martin  J.  Bellis  and  John 
Quick.  John  Quick  was  again  elected  President  and 
Treasurer  of  the  Board. 

At  the  annual  congregational  meeting  held  March  8th, 
1880,  Zebulon  Stout  was  elected  Chairman  and  George 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— i $20- 1900      265 

P.  Rex,  M.  D.,  Secretary.  The  Treasurer's  report  was 
presented  and  approved.  The  shortage  was  now  but 
$41.47,  and  this,  while  the  pastor's  salary  had  been  ad- 
vanced to  $8(X),  and  the  parsonage"  had  been  painted.  The 
Board  of  Trustees  was  re-elected.  At  this  meeting  Ca- 
leb F.  Quick  was  appointed  to  rent  the  pews,  and  If  the 
rent  on  any  pew  was  not  paid,  power  was  given  him  to 
rent  the  same  to  those  who  would  pay. 

The  annual  meeting  held  March  7th,  1881,  again  chose 
Zebulon  Stout  as  Chairman,  and  elected  C.  F.  Quick, 
Secretary.  The  old  Board  of  Trustees  was  once  more 
re-elected,  and  John  Quick  was  retained  as  Treasurer. 

At  the  congregational  meeting  held  March  13th,  1882, 
William  G.  Hill  was  made  President  and  H.  S.  Peter- 
son, Secretary.  For  the  fourth  time  the  same  Board  of 
Trustees  was  elected,  with  the  same  President  and 
Treasurer  of  the  Board.  The  healthy  condition  of  the 
finances  is  shown  from  the  fact  that  during  these  years, 
there  was  only  a  small  annual  deficiency  in  the  Treasury, 
and  with  the  co-operation  of  the  people  the  Treasurer 
paid  the  $400  due  the  pastor,  promptly  on  the  first  of 
April  and  the  first  of  October.  This  year  of  1882 
showed  in  the  October  payment  that  the  money  was  com- 
ing in  with  less  promptness,  and  at  the  close  of  the 
year  the  Indebtedness  due  the  Treasurer  was  $174.43, 
or  more  than  three  times  what  it  had  previously  been 
under  this  pastor. 

At  the  meeting  held  March  12th,  1883,  William  G.  Hill 
was  chosen  President  and  C.  F.  Quick,  Secretary.  In 
the  election  of  Trustees  there  was  a  slight  change.  John 
B.  Lowe  and  David  Weart  having  been  chosen  in  the 


266  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

place  of  Lewis  Sutphin  and  Peter  Q.  Holcombe.  A  new 
committee,  viz :  John  W.  Priestly,  Asher  Higgins  and  Wil- 
liam G.  Hill  was  appointed  to  rent  the  pews,  with  au- 
thority to  add  25  per  cent,  to  the  last  six  months'  pay- 
ment, in  order  to  pay  the  indebtedness  to  the  Treasurer. 

This  was  the  year  in  which  the  Church  was  remod- 
eled and  enlarged.  But  the  only  statement  concerning 
this  step  recorded  in  the  congregational  book,  is  that  the 
congregation  hereby  authorizes  John  W.  Pristly,  Treas- 
urer of  the  Building  Committee,  to  borrow  the  money 
needed  for  the  work  on  the  Church. 

We  have  no  means  of  knowing  the  result  of  the  ad- 
ditional assessment  on  the  pews,  but  at  the  close  of  the 
Treasurer's  report  **Mrs.  John  Quick  is  credited  for 
subscription  of  $100."  With  this  help  the  pastor  was 
paid  on  time,  and  the  books  balanced,  except  a  shortage 
of  $5.47.  The  congregational  meeting  held  March  17th, 
1884,  had  for  its  President  John  Quick,  and  Peter  Q. 
Holcombe,  Secretary.  The  Trustees  elected  were  Thomas 
Miller,  Martin  J.  Bellis,  David  S.  Wert,  James  P. 
Chamberlin,  John  B.  Lowe,  Arthur  Sutphin  and  John 
Quick.     The  salary  was  increased  this  year  by  $100. 

Martin  J.  Bellis  was  chosen  Chairman  and  C.  F. 
Quick,  Secretary,  of  the  meeting  held  March  gth,  1885. 
The  Trustees  elected  were  Thomas  Miller,  David  S. 
Wert,  James  P.  Chamberlin,  John  B.  Lowe,  William 
Pierce,  Theodore  F.  Swarer  and  Arthur  Sutphin.  The 
Board  elected  Theodore  F.  Swarer  as  their  President  and 
Treasurer. 

At  this  meeting  of  the  congregation  it  was  decided 
to  pay  the  salary  monthly,  and  to  use  the  envelope  sys- 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      267 

tern  in  collecting  it.  These  envelopes  yielded  to  the  pas- 
tor almost  $1,000  in  cash.  This  experiment  proved  the 
use  of  the  envelope  to  be  the  best  system  for  this  Church, 
as  it  has  been  proved  to  be  for  many  other  churches,  but 
it  will  not  run  itself. 

The  annual  meeting  held  March  15th,  1886,  chose  C.  F. 
Quick,  Chairman,  and  Peter  Q.  Holcombe,  Secretary. 
The  Board  of  Trustees  was  re-elected  and  Mr.  Swarer 
was  again  made  President  and  Treasurer  of  the  Board. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  congregation  was  called  by 
the  Session  April  26th,  1886.  William  G.  Hill  was  ap- 
pointed Chairman  of  this  meeting,  and  C.  F.  Quick,  Sec- 
retary. The  object  of  the  meeting  was  stated  by  the 
Chairman  to  be  to  appoint  commissioners  to  unite  with 
the  pastor  In  asking  Presbytery  to  dissolve  the  relation 
existing  between  himself  and  this  Church.  The  action 
taken  by  the  meeting  was  most  complimentary  to  the  pas- 
tor.   It  was  expressed  as  follows: 

Resolved,  That  we  are  opposed  to  the  dissolution  of 
the  pastoral  relation  existing  between  Rev.  J.  W.  P. 
Blattenberger  and  this  Church.  This  motion  was  unani- 
mously adopted. 

Secondly.  It  was  decided  to  make  the  salary  of  the  pas- 
tor $1,000  per  annum. 

Thirdly.  That  we  appoint  as  commissioners  to  Pres- 
bytery, to  meet  at  Princeton  to-morrow,  George  P.  Rex, 
M.  D.,  Caleb  F.  Quick  and  Theodore  F.  Swarer  and 
instruct  them  to  oppose  the  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  re- 
lation. In  this  effort  the  Church  was  successful,  and  Mr. 
Blattenberger  remained. 

The  annual  meeting  held  March  28th,  1887,  chose  C. 


268  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

F.  Quick  as  Chairman,  and  Peter  Q.  Holcombe  as  Sec- 
retary. The  old  Board  of  Trustees  was  once  more  re- 
elected and  Mr.  Swarer  was  again  made  their  President 
and  Treasurer. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  congregation  was  called  for 
October  3rd,  1887,  which  elected  William  G.  Hill, 
Chairman,  and  C.  F.  Quick,  Secretary.  The  pastor  stated 
the  object  of  the  meeting  to  be  to  ask  the  congregation 
to  appoint  commissioners  to  Presbytery  to-morrow  at 
Dayton  to  unite  with  him  in  requesting  a  dissolution  of 
the  pastoral  relation  existing  between  himself  and  this 
Church.  The  congregation  concurred  in  this  request,  but 
expressed  their  high  appreciation  of  Mr.  Blattenberger 
and  regret  that  he  was  about  to  be  separated  from  them. 
Elder  William  G.  Hill  and  George  Lunger  were  the  ap- 
pointed commissioners  to  represent  the  congregation  at 
Presbytery. 

Presbytery  met  October  the  4th.  The  commissioners 
were  present  and  concurred  with  the  pastor  in  request- 
ing the  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation  between  him- 
self and  the  Amwell  First  Church.  Presbytery  granted 
the  request,  and  the  pastoral  relation  was  this  day  dis- 
solved. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Session  after  the  installation 
of  Mr.  Blattenberger  was  held  January  25th,  1879.  The 
numbers  received  by  the  Session  at  this  time  show  a  most 
auspicious  beginning  of  Mr.  Blattenberger's  pastorate.  He 
entered  upon  the  work  with  the  new  year,  and  with  the 
observance  of  the  Week  of  Prayer.  This  was  followed 
with  evangelistic  services,  which  were  continued  for  sev- 
eral weeks.     At  this  first  meeting  of  the  Session  the  fol- 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      269 

lowing  persons  were  received  into  the  membership  of  the 
Church :  On  certificate,  Mrs.  Mattie  Blattenberger,  from 
the  Bergen  St.  M.  E.  Church,  Newark.  On  examination, 
James  P.  Chamberlin,  Thomas  Miller,  William  Hill, 
Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Hill,  his  wife,  William  F.  Chamberlin, 
Arthur  Sutphin,  Miss  Julia  Sutphin,  Miss  Ella  L.  Smith, 
Leonard  D.  Wilson,  John  J.  Hall,  David  S.  Prall,  John 
K.  Agens,  Brogun  B.  Van  Nuys  Lowe,  Calvin  Hoagland, 
Miss  Sallie  Dilts,  Miss  Mary  E.  Prall,  Miss  Hannah 
Prall. 

February  ist.  The  Session  received  on  certificate  from 
the  Baptist  Church  at  Wertsville,  Mrs.  Rebecca  M. 
Chamberlin,  wife  of  William  F.  Chamberlin  and  Aaron 
T.  Agens  from  the  Reformed  Church  of  Readington.  On 
examination,  Mrs.  Ann  E.  Strimple  and  Miss  Lizzie  P. 
Hill. 

March  ist.  The  Session  met  and  received  on  certifi- 
cate, Mrs.  Mary  J.  Fisher  from  the  Reformed  Church  of 
Plainfield;  Miss  Anna  W.  Bowlby  from  the  M.  E. 
Church  of  Quakertown;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  B.  Lowe 
from  the  Reformed  Church  of  East  Millstone;  George 
W.  Dilts  from  the  M.  E.  Church  of  Mt.  Zion;  Mrs. 
Ann  Dilts  from  the  United  First  Church  of  Amwell; 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Theodore  F.  Swarer  from  the  M.  E. 
Church  of  Stanton;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  F.  Apgar 
from  the  M.  E.  Church  of  Annandale;  Mrs.  Theo- 
dosia  Hall  from  the  Reformed  Church  of  Three  Bridges; 
Mrs.  M.  Elizabeth  Higgins,  and  Mrs.  Hannah  M.  Hoag- 
land from  the  Reformed  Church  of  Clover  Hill,  and 
Mrs.  Rachel  Lowe  from  the  Reformed  Church  of  Ne- 
shanic.    And  on  examination,  Mrs.  Ellen  A.  Smith,  Mrs. 


270  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Sarah  L.  Hagaman,  Mrs.  Sarah  M.  Haines,  Mrs.  Sarah 
Louisa  Fisher,  Mrs.  Lucretia  H.  Dilts,  Isaac  S.  Lowe, 
William  E.  J.  Huffman,  Caleb  F.  Quick,  Mrs.  Cathar- 
ine B.  Quick,  his  wife.  Miss  Fannie  Quick,  Jacob  Hoag- 
land,  John  E.  Hoagland  and  Mrs.  Ellen  Hoagland,  Mrs. 
Ellen  Hill,  Mrs.  Ada  V.  Hill,  Miss  Julia  H.  Smith, 
Miss  Georgiana  Dilts,  Miss  Kate  C.  Holcombe,  Miss 
Mary  Chamberlin,  Miss  Belle  Hill,  Miss  Hannah  B. 
Hockenbury,  Miss  Ann  Rebecca  Deats,  Miss  Cora  L. 
Bowlby,  Miss  Mary  Prall,  William  Boughner  and  Wal- 
ter M.  Risender.  And  Sabbath  morning,  March  2nd, 
Miss  Wilhelmina  Slpler  and  William  Dilts. 

On  this  Sabbath  morning,  March  2nd,  these  new  mem- 
bers, 17  in  all,  received  by  letter  from  other  churches, 
were  welcomed  into  the  fellowship  of  this  Church,  and 
47,  received  on  examination,  made  a  public  profession  of 
their  faith  in  Christ,  of  which  number  33  were  admitted 
to  the  Sacrament  of  baptism,  and  the  whole  number  to 
the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper. 

This  Ingathering  belongs  really  to  one  series  of  meet- 
ings begun  with  the  Week  of  Prayer,  and  constitutes  the 
largest  addition  at  any  one  period  to  the  membership  of 
the  Church  during  her  history. 

April  5th  the  Session  met,  and  received  Mrs.  Rachel 
B.  Boughner  to  the  membership  of  the  Church  on  certifi- 
cate, from  the  Reformed  Church  of  Rocky  Hill. 

May  31st.  The  Session  received  Into  the  membership 
of  the  Church  on  certificate,  Miss  Abigail  A.  Marsh  from 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  New  Brunswick,  and 
Miss  Mary  P.  Quick  from  the  Reformed  Church  at  Clo- 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820-1900      271 

ver  Hill.  And  on  examination,  Mrs.  Rachel  Trimmer 
and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  D.  A.  Servis. 

September  6th.  The  Session  received,  on  certificate, 
from  the  Reformed  Church  of  Raritan,  Mrs.  Kitty  W. 
D.,  wife  of  David  Bartron. 

December  6th.  The  Session  received  William  Servis 
on  certificate,  from  the  Baptist  Church  of  Wertsville, 
and  Mrs.  Emma,  his  wife,  on  examination. 

December  7th.  The  Session  received  on  examination, 
David  Chamberlin  and  Mrs.  Clarinda  C,  his  wife,  and 
Miss  Kate  Jones. 

March  6th,  1880.  The  Session  received  on  certificate 
from  the  Amwell  United  First  Church,  Miss  Mary  A. 
Wilson  and  Stephen  A.  Staats  and  Mrs.  Martha  V.  Gu- 
lick,  his  wife,  from  the  Reformed  Church  at  Harlingen. 
On  examination,  Mrs.  Fanny  Griggs  and  Miss  Sarah  E. 
Van  Horn. 

June  5  th.  The  Session  received  on  certificate  from 
Amwell  United  First,  Jonathan  E.  Haines  and  Miss  Re- 
becca Fink  from  the  Kirkpatrick  Memorial  Church. 

December  4th.  The  Session  received  on  certificate  from 
the  Reformed  Church,  Clover  Hill,  William  S.  Schenck 
and  Mrs.  Mary  Young,  his  wife. 

March  5  th,  1881.  Received  on  certificate  from  Am- 
well Second  Church,  Mrs.  Jennie  Smith.  Received  on 
examination,  Ralph  Y.  Smith,  Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Sipler, 
Miss  Kate  C.  Griggs,  Miss  Mary  J.  Housel  and  Miss 
Sarah  Agens. 

August  27th.  Mrs.  Emeline  Laubaugh  was  received 
by  letter  from  the  Bethlehem  M.  E.  Church. 

December  3rd.    The  Session  received  on  examination, 


272  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Daniel  R.  Housel,  George  T.  Bacon  and  Emma  C,  his 
wife. 

February  25th,  1882.  The  Session  received  on  exami- 
nation, Samuel  Haines. 

June  3rd.  The  Session  received  on  certificate  from 
the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Liberty  Corner,  Mrs.  Jennie 
Hoagland. 

August  26th.  Richard  B.  McPherson  was  received 
on  certificate  from  the  M.  E.  Church  of  Stanton,  N.  J. 

March  3rd,  1883.  B.  B.  Voorhees  and  Marietta  Pit- 
tenger,  his  wife,  were  received  on  certificate  from  the 
Reformed  Church  of  Branchville. 

August  25th.  Isaac  N.  and  Elizabeth  A.  Brokaw,  his 
wife,  were  received  by  letter  from  the  First  M.  E.  Church 
of  Somerville. 

December  1st.  Received  on  examination.  Miss  Kate 
R.  Holcombe,  Miss  Bessie  Smith,  Miss  Georgie  Hol- 
combe,  Miss  Lydia  Teaman,  Miss  Mattie  E.  McPher- 
son and  Rettie  R.  Higgins. 

And  on  Sabbath  morning,  the  2nd,  Mrs.  Cora  E.  Wil- 
son from  the  St.  George's  M.  E.  Church,  Philadelphia. 
And  on  examination,  Miss  Carrie  E.  Boyce,  Miss  Mag- 
gie Hunt  and  Miss  Mary  Etta  Van  Horn. 

December  9th.  J.  Jacob  Kisz  on  certificate,  from  the 
Lutheran  Church  in  Germany.  On  examination,  Schenck 
Smith  and  Hannah  M.  Smith,  his  wife,  Samuel  Peters 
(colored).  Miss  Lizzie  Kisz,  Miss  Maggie  M.  Kisz, 
John  J.  Kisz,  Miss  Annie  E.  Miller,  Miss  Minnie  L. 
Hoagland  and  Alexander  R.  Griggs. 

January  6th,  1884.  Received  on  examination.  Miss 
Cornelia  Hill,  Mrs.  Sarah  M.  Lyman  (colored),  Andrew 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1 820-1 900      273 

M.  Dllts,  Charles  M.  SIpler,  Jr.,  and  Mrs.  Martha  T. 
Todd.  And  on  certificate  from  the  Baptist  Church  of 
Flemington,  Mrs.  Gertrude  V.  M.  Peterson. 

At  this  time  the  Session  decided  to  take  measures  for 
adding  three  more  persons  to  their  number,  and  also  decided 
on  the  persons  they  would  place  in  nomination.  They 
appointed  March  23  rd  as  the  day  for  this  action. 

Sabbath  morning,  March  23rd,  the  Session  placed  in 
nomination  for  the  office  of  Ruling  Elder,  Caleb  Farlee 
Quick,  Martin  J.  Bellis  and  James  Prall,  Chamberlin. 
The  congregation  was  invited  to  place  others  in  nomina- 
tion, if  it  so  desired.  There  being  no  other  nominations 
the  vote  was  taken,  and  the  persons  nominated  were 
unanimously  elected.  The  persons  thus  elected  were  or- 
dained and  installed  to  the  office  of  Ruling  Elder  im- 
mediately after  their  election. 

May  31st.  Lemuel  Hoagland  and  Mary,  his  wife, 
were  received  by  letter  from  the  M.  E.  Church  of  Ser- 
geantville,  N.  J.,  and  Dora,  their  daughter,  was  received 
on  examination. 

December  7th.  The  Session  passed  a  vote  of  thanks 
to  Mrs.  John  Quick  for  her  kindness  in  presenting  to  the 
Church  a  silver  tankard  for  the  use  of  the  Church  at  the 
communion  services. 

January  i8th,  1885.  The  Session  received  on  exami- 
nation. Miss  Laura  B.  White,  Miss  Emma  F.  Hall  and 
Miss  Susie  K.  Cronce. 

February  28th.    Frederick  Dirking  and  Miss  Cora  M. 

Sutphin  were  received  on  examination  to  the  membership 

of  this  Church.     Mrs.  Mary  R.  Everitt  was  received  by 

letter  from  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Flemington,  and 
18 


274  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Mrs.  Rhoda  F.  Quick  from  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Titusville. 

At  this  meeting  Dr.  Rex  handed  in  his  resignation  as 
Clerk  of  Session,  on  account  of  the  infirmity  of  age,  and 
Elder  C.  F.  Quick  was  elected  to  fill  his  place. 

June  6th.  Mrs.  Martha  Stothoff  was  received  by  let- 
ter from  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Flemington. 

December  5th.  Mr.  F.  Rusham  and  Johanna,  his  wife, 
were  received  by  letter  from  the  M.  E.  Church  of  Flem- 
ington. 

Elder  George  P.  Rex,  who  had  been  appointed  to  pre- 
pare a  minute  on  the  death  of  Elder  Zebulon  Stout,  be- 
ing prevented  by  sickness  from  attending  this  meeting, 
sent  the  following  resolutions  which  were  approved  by 
Session  and  ordered  to  be  placed  on  our  records,  viz: 

Whereas,  Zebulon  Stout,  the  senior  member  of  this 
Session,  departed  this  life  August  nth,  1885,  we,  the 
surviving  members  of  the  Session,  desire  to  place  on  rec- 
ord our  appreciation  of  his  character  as  a  citizen  and  as 
a  Christian ;    therefore. 

Resolved,  That  we  express  our  profound  sorrow  at  the 
death  of  our  brother,  who  had  lived  beyond  four  score 
years,  and  "has  come  to  the  grave  like  a  shock  of  corn 
cometh  in  his  season." 

Resolved,  That  in  Brother  Stout  we  had  a  man  of 
prayer,  and  one  who,  while  "fervent  in  spirit,"  was  dili- 
gent in  doing  the  things  his  hands  found  to  do  in  the 
service  of  the  Master.  In  this  he  has  left  an  example 
worthy  of  imitation  by  all  the  members  of  this  Church. 

Resolved,  That  this  testimonial  be  sent  to  William  B. 
Stout,  executor  of  his  estate. 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820-1900      275 

March  6th,  1886.  The  Session  received,  on  examina- 
tion, Mrs.  Robert  R.  Smith,  Jr.,  into  the  membership  of 
the  Church. 

June  5th.  Received  by  letter  from  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Pluckemin,  Frederick  Powelson  and  Emma 
B.,  his  wife,  and  Mrs.  Ann  R.  Svi^Ietzer.  At  the  same 
time  Lemuel  White  and  Mary  F.,  his  wife,  being  mem- 
bers of  the  German  Baptist  Church,  but  not  having  cer- 
tificates, were  received  on  examination. 

March  5th,  1887.  Mrs.  Rose  Young  Prall  was  re- 
ceived by  letter  from  the  Baptist  Church  of  Flemington. 

June  4th.  John  W.  Lebler  and  Augusta  F.,  his  wife, 
Miss  Cornelia  A.  Case  and  Frederick  V.  D.  Durham 
were  received  on  examination.  Henrys  Lunger  was  re- 
ceived by  letter  from  the  M.  E.  Church  at  Norton,  and 
Mrs.  Sarah  R.  R.  Hoffman  from  the  Reformed  Church 
at  Clover  Hill. 

The  last  meeting  of  Session,  moderated  by  Mr.  Blat- 
tenberger,  was  held  October  3rd,  1887.  During  his  pas- 
torate one  hundred  (100)  persons  were  received  into 
the  Church  on  examination,  and  fifty-two  (52)  by  letter 
from  other  churches.  This  large  accession  gives  Dr.  Blat- 
tenberger  a  distinguished  place  among  the  pastors  of  this 
Church.  And  yet,  Without  detracting  from  his  faithful- 
ness and  genuine  success,  it  Is  evident  that  the  conditions 
then  were  much  more  favorable  than  they  have  been 
since.  This  is  shown  by  the  larger  numbers  received  by 
letter,  by  the  larger  number  In  the  Sabbath  School,  as  well 
as  the  much  larger  number  of  children  enrolled  In  the 
day  school  then  than  at  the  present  time. 

To  state  this  definitely  while  the  Reaville  school  dis- 


276  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

trict  has  the  same  boundary  lines  now,  as  then,  and  with 
the  same  teacher  in  the  school,  Miss  Anna  Park,  now,  that 
had  charge  of  the  school  at  the  beginning  of  Mr.  Blat- 
tenberger's  pastorate,  the  school  enrollment  then  was  over 
eighty,  while  for  these  last  two  years  it  has  been  under 
thirty.  With  corresponding  changes  in  the  congregation 
the  enrollment  of  eighty-four  in  the  Sabbath  School  is 
really  a  higher  ratio  to  the  whole  than  one  hundred  and 
fifty  was  at  the  earlier  date. 

Mr.  Blattenberger  saw  these  changes  coming,  as  he  has 
stated  to  me,  and  the  records  themselves  confirm  the  fact 
of  their  approach. 

The  total  membership  reported  the  year  before  Mr. 
Blattenberger  came  was  105.  With  the  large  revival  at 
the  beginning  of  his  pastorate,  adding  64  in  all,  he  was 
enabled  to  put  the  number  at  146  in  his  first  report.  With 
15  additions  the  second  year,  he  reported  the  membership 
at  156.  In  1881,  with  eleven  additions  he  reported  157, 
and  the  same  number  for  each  of  the  next  two  years,  with 
five  additions  in.  1882,  and  four  in  1883. 

In  1884  there  was  the  large  addition  of  28,  and  the 
membership  reached  166. 

In  1885  it  was  174,  which  is  doubtless  too  high,  as 
there  were  only  nine  additions. 

In  1886,  with  only  one  added  on  examination  and 
three  by  letter,  the  report  gives  the  membership  as  171. 

In  1887  the  membership  is  reported  at  165.  This  was 
the  last  report  made  by  Mr.  Blattenberger.  But  it  is 
evident  the  membership  was  stated  too  high,  that  is  the 
loss  from  death  and  removals  was  not  accurately  de- 
ducted.    This  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  the  first  report 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      277 

made  to  Presbytery  after  Mr.  Blattenberger  left,  gives 
the  membership  of  the  Church  as  123.  These  figures  are 
given  to  show  how  changeable  this  Church  has  been  even 
in  its  most  prosperous  days. 

There  is  another  very  important  fact  in  this  pastorate 
which  reflects  great  credit,  both  upon  the  pastor  and  the 
people.  The  people  saw  that  the  Church  was  needing 
repairs.  The  question  then  arose,  "shall  we  simply  repair, 
or  shall  we  enlarge  and  repair."  Subscription  papers  were 
circulated  with  this  question  before  the  people.  This  was 
early  in  1883,  or  perhaps  in  1882.  The  subscriptions 
were  on  so  liberal  a  scale  that  more  money  was  sub- 
scribed than  needed  for  repairs.  This  was  understood  to 
be  the  expression  on  part  of  the  people  of  their  wish  to 
enlarge.  This  measure  was  decided  on  by  the  Trustees, 
and  the  work  commenced.  It  consisted  in  raising  the 
Church  and  putting  in  our  very  comfortable  basement 
room,  with  session  room  and  kitchen.  Also  lengthening 
the  main  building  so  as  to  add  one  window  on  each 
side  at  the  north,  and  putting  in  the  recess  for  the  pul- 
pit. The  whole  was  frescoed  and  fitted  with  heaters, 
and  the  building  painted  and  thoroughly  renewed.  As  a 
result  we  have  a  very  pleasant  audience  room,  duly  pro- 
portioned and  suitably  furnished.  Besides  this  our  base- 
ment is  a  convenience  of  the  utmost  importance,  and  sur- 
passing any  provision  for  its  purpose  among  our  neigh- 
boring churches. 

The  whole  cost  of  this  improvement  was  about  $5,000. 
Three-fourths  of  this  money  was  raised  the  first  year. 
The  debt  remaining  to  the  next  year  was  $1,400.  After 
a  little  consultation  between  a  few  members  of  the  con- 


278  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

gregation  and  the  pastor,  It  was  decided  to  present  the 
matter  one  Sabbath  at  the  close  of  the  morning  service. 
After  a  statement  of  the  subject  by  the  pastor,  and  the 
encouragement  he  was  authorized  to  give,  that  if  the  con- 
gregation would  take  hold  of  it  so  as  to  wipe  out  the  debt, 
two  or  three  large  subscriptions  were  ready  to  be  named, 
such  as  $500  from  Mr.  J.  W.  Priestly,  who  had  previously 
given  $500,  and  two  or  three  subscriptions  of  $200  would 
also  be  made,  Mr.  Blattenberger  then  and  there  called 
for  subscriptions  asking  who  would  give  $200,  $100,  $75, 
$50, $25, $15  and  $io.The  response  was  such  that  the  whole 
amount  was  pledged  before  the  congregation  adjourned. 
I  here  name  Mr.  Priestly,  and  I  presume  with  the  ap- 
proval of  all.     I  would  name  the  others  if  I  had  the  list. 

It  is  all  the  more  commendable,  both^  to  pastor  and 
people,  to  find  that  while  this  large  amount  was  con- 
tributed by  the  congregation  for  its  own  purposes,  the  ob- 
jects of  Christian  beneficence  were  receiving,  from  year  to 
year,  increased  support.  To  Illustrate,  in  1884,  the  year 
in  which  the  debt  for  enlarging  the  Church  was  cancelled, 
the  Church  raised  for  Home  Missions  $44,  and  for  For- 
eign Missions  $78.  The  largest  amount,  up  to  this  date, 
contributed  by  the  Church  in  any  one  year  for  these  ob- 
jects. In  the  following  year  the  amount  for  Foreign 
Missions  reached  $100.  This  is  the  index  of  a  healthy 
condition  of  the  Church. 

I  submit,  as  I  have  done  in  case  of  other  pastorates,  a 
more  complete  statement  of  the  financial  and  benevolent 
work  of  the  Church  for  this  period,  as  an  important  part 
of  the  Church's  history. 

In  April,  1879,  the  report  for  the  year  in  which  Mr. 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      279 


Beekman  left,  and  that  in  which  Mr.  Blattenberger  set- 
tled, nearly  always  a  poor  year  for  benevolent  work,  the 
church  gave  to  Home  Missions  $7.15,  to  Foreign  Mis- 
sions $8.70.  While  to  all  the  Boards  of  the  Church,  in- 
cluding the  assessment  for  Presbyterial  and  General  As- 
sembly expenses,  only  $42.50,  and  to  miscellaneous  causes 
$82.65.  This  largely  to  the  Hunterdon  County  Bible  So- 
ciety, or  a  total  for  beneficence  $135.  To  tabulate  the 
results  of  this  pastorate  we  have: 


For  the 

Total 

Congre- 

Boards. 

Miscellaneous. 

Beneficence. 

gational. 

1879  .. 

.       $42  50 

$82  65 

$135   15 

$1,330 

1880  .. 

118    22 

27  00 

145  00 

1,574 

I88I  .. 

.         144   92 

25   CX) 

169  92 

1495 

1882  .. 

.         147    20 

69  00 

216  20 

1,402 

1883  .. 

.         144   99 

41  00 

185  99 

5,150 

1884  .. 

.         170  99 

10  00 

180  99 

2,873 

1885  .. 

.         197    77 

16  00 

213  77 

1,338 

1886  .. 

185    40 

16  00 

201  40 

1,420 

1887  .. 

.         147    81 

9  00 

156  81 

1,500 

$1,299  80   $295  65  $1,605  23   $18,082 

This  is  a  very  good  showing  for  these  nine  years  of 
the  Church's  history. 

Of  Dr.  Blattenberger  personally  we  know  less  than  we 
should  be  glad  to  know.  Like  the  wise  man  that  he  is, 
he  has  not  put  his  age  on  public  record.  He  was  grad- 
uated, however,  in  college  and  theological  departments 
of  Drew  Seminary  in  1873.  When  called  November 
25th,  1878,  to  become  pastor  of  this  Church,  it  was  from 


28o  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

the  pastorate  of  the  Bergen  Street  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  City  of  Newark.  He  was  installed  over 
Amwell  First  Church,  December  31st,  1878.  The  pas- 
toral relation  was  dissolved  October  4th,  1887,  making 
his  pastorate  here  a  little  less  than  nine  years. 

Near  the  close  of  his  pastorate  here  he  received  a  call 
to  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Bridesburg,  Pa.  He  con- 
tinues in  the  pastorate  of  that  church  at  the  present  time, 
1899.  In  the  meanwhile  he  has  received  calls  to  other 
churches,  but  has  seen  fit  to  decline  them.  His  pastorate  at 
Bridesburg  has  been  characterized  with  great  activity  and 
with  yearly  additions  to  the  membership  of  the  Church,  the 
number  ranging  from  ten  to  thirty  on  examination.  But 
in  no  one  year  so  large  a  number  as  came  into  this  Church 
the  first  year  of  his  pastorate  here.  The  Church  of 
Bridesburg  had  in  1888,  the  time  of  Dr.  Blattenberger's 
first  report,  250  members,  or  about  100  more  than  this 
Church.  Some  years  it  has  reported  less,  but  generally 
more.  The  last  report  states  the  membership  at  317.  His 
address  before  the  Woman's  Home  and  Foreign  Mission- 
ary Societies  at  the  time  of  our  one  hundred  and  sixtieth 
anniversary,  showed  that  his  bow  abides  in  strength,  and 
that  his  zeal  for  the  extension  of  the  Master's  Kingdom 
over  the  earth  is  still  intense  and  impelling.  You,  as  a 
church  owe  thanks  to  your  Divine  Lord  for  the  ministry 
of  such  a  man  among  you. 

Dr.  Blattenberger  continued  to  minister  to  the  Church 
at  Bridesburg  with  untiring  devotion  until  September, 
1905,  when  he  suffered  a  stroke  of  paralysis.  He  re- 
mained pastor  of  the  Church  until  June  16,  1906,  when 
he  was  called  to  his  heavenly  home  by  the  Master,  whom 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      281 

he  loved  to  serve.  He  v^as  in  the  nineteenth  year  of  his 
pastorate  when  his  death  occurred.  The  Presbytery  (Phil- 
adelphia North)  at  the  time  of  his  death,  expressed  a  high 
appreciation  of  his  faithfulness  as  a  minister  of  the  Gos- 
pel, and  its  deep  sympathy  with  his  family  and  the  Church 
of  which  he  was  the  honored  pastor. 

APPENDIX  NO.  I ELDER  JOHN  Y.  BELLIS. 

The  death  of  Elder  Bellis  occurred  on  the  nth  of 
March,  1888,  and  only  a  few  weeks  before  the  call  of 
Rev.  Thomas  C.  Potter  to  be  your  pastor.  Because  it 
was  in  the  interval  between  pastors  is  perhaps  the  rea- 
son that  no  memorial  of  his  service  to  the  Church  is  to 
be  found  in  the  minutes  of  the  Church. 

Although  I  did  not  have  the  privilege  of  a  personal 
acquaintance  with  Elder  Bellis,  I  have  learned  so  much 
of  his  service  to  this  Church,  that  I  cannot  omit  his  name 
and  a  record  of  his  service  from  the  pages  of  this  his- 
tory. Elder  Bellis  belonged  to  one  of  the  old  families 
which  in  Colonial  times  settled  in  the  Amwell  Valley. 

The  ancestors  of  Elder  Bellis  came  from  Germany 
and  from  the  first  were  identified  with  the  German  or 
Old  Stone  Church  at  the  Corner.  This  is  our  nearest 
neighbor  to  the  West.  When  the  German  Church  be- 
came Presbyteryian  in  18 10,  and  formed  an  organic 
union  with  our  Church,  under  the  corporate  name  of  the 
United  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Amwell,  under  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  Jacob  Kirkpatrick,  the  family  was  a 
part  of  this  congregation.  The  original  name  was 
Boellesfelt.  The  first  of  the  name  was  Johann  Adam^ 
Boellesfelt,   who   came   to  America,   previous   to    1740, 


282  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

shown  by  the  fact  that  a  son  was  born  in  Amwell  that 
year.  The  family  came  from  Neuwid,  in  Rhenish 
Prussia.  Johann  was  born  in  1710,  and  died  1761.  He 
located  near  Copper  Hill.  He  assisted  in  building  the 
Old  Stone  German  Church  in  1749.  His  oldest  son 
was  Wilhelm-,  born  December  i8th,  1840.  We  men- 
tion only  his  son  William^,  born  December  15th,  1776, 
and  Mathias'^,  grandfather  of  Theodore  Bellis,  to  whom 
we  are  indebted  for  this  family  history.  Another  grand- 
son of  William^,  is  William^  Bellis,  who  is  an  Elder  in 
the  Old  Stone  Church,  or  rather  its  successor,  the  Am- 
well United  First  Church. 

A  son  of  William^,  was  John  Y.  Bellis*,  the  subject 
of  this  article.  He  was  one  of  our  Elders  in  the  Am- 
well First.  He  was  born  January  2nd,  1809.  He  and 
Elizabeth  Ann  Brewer  were  united  in  marriage  Janu- 
ary 19th,  1837.  He  was  chosen  to  preside  over  the  Con- 
gregational meeting  in  1871.  He  frequently  served  the 
Church  as  trustee.  He  united  with  the  Church  on  ex- 
amination in  1846,  Rev.  Benjamin  Carrell  being  pastor. 
He  was  ordained  to  the  office  of  Ruling  Elder  April 
27,  1872,  under  Rev.  John  H.  Scofield,  pastor. 
I  requested  Elder  C.  F.  Quick  to  give  me  his  estimate 
of  Elder  Bellis,  as  a  man  and  an  officer.  He  wrote  me 
that  ''Elder  Bellis  was  a  man  of  peaceable  disposition, 
and  irreproachable  character.  He  was  slow  in  forming 
an  opinion,  but  firm  when  once  he  had  come  to  a  deci- 
sion. He  was  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of 
his  office,  and  liberal  in  supporting  the  Church,  and  con- 
tributing to  her  objects  of  beneficence."  He  departed 
this  life  March  nth,   1888.     During  the  later  years  of 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      283 

his  life,  it  was  his  privilege  to  see  his  son,  Martin"',  Jr., 
chosen  to  the  same  office  with  himself.  This  son  of  his, 
was  one  of  the  Elders  of  the  Church,  during  my  pas- 
torate. In  this  office  he,  Martin,  Jr.,  served  the  Church 
with  a  faithfulness  I  have  never  seen  surpassed.  A  simi- 
lar statement  may  be  made  concerning  his  cousin,  Wil- 
liam®, above  mentioned,  of  his  faithfulness  to  the  United 
First  Church.  He  is  the  fifth  in  the  line  of  descent  of 
this  family  to  hold  this  office  in  that  Church.  A  rare 
history  truly  of  a  family  serving  two  neighboring 
churches  in   the   Eldership. 

THE  SIXTEENTH  PASTOR,  REV.  THOMAS  CHALMERS  POTTER, 

1888— 1889. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Congregation  held 
March  27th,  1888,  William  G.  Hill  was  made  Chair- 
man, and  Barton  Huffman  Secretary.  It  was  decided 
at  this  meeting  that  the  old  Board  of  Trustees  should 
be  re-elected.  This  was  followed  by  choosing  Theodore 
F.  Swarer  as  President  of  the  Board.  On  the  same  day 
a  unanimous  call  was  given  to  Rev.  George  Scarlet  to 
become  pastor  of  this  Church.  This  call  he  subsequently 
declined. 

This  date  of  March  27th,  1888,  is  the  first,  in  wjiich 
there  is  any  record  of  employing  an  organist,  at  a  fixed 
salary.  A  Committee  was  appointed,  consisting  of 
Thomas  Miller  and  William  Pierce  to  wait  on  Mrs.  Pe- 
terson, to  ascertain  if  she  would  continue  to  act  as  or- 
ganist. The  Committee  reported  before  the  meeting 
adjourned  that  they  had  secured  her  agreement  to  ren- 
der this  service  for  $80  per  annum,  and  the  privilege  of 


284  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

giving  a  concert  in  the  Church.  This  matter  is  men- 
tioned with  no  reflection  on  the  requirement  of  a  salary 
for  this  service,  but  as  a  matter  of  history,  and  to  ex- 
press the  appreciation  of  the  Church  to  those  members 
of  the  Congregation  who  for  years  rendered  this  service 
gratuitously. 

The  session  called  a  meeting  of  the  congregation  again 
May  14th,  1888,  in  order,  if  the  way  was  clear,  to  call 
a  pastor. 

The  Rev.  George  S.  Mott,  D.  D.,  moderated  this  meet- 
ing.    Barton  Huffman  was  appointed  Secretary. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Chalmers  Potter  was  nominated 
and  unanimously  elected  to  the  pastorate  of  this  Church. 
The  salary  promised  Mr.  Potter  was  $800  per  annum, 
to  be  paid  in  two  equal  payments,  together  with  the  free 
use  of  the  parsonage  and  three  weeks'  vacation. 

At  the  close  of  the  preparatory  service  held  June  2nd, 
Mr.  Potter  being  present,  was  invited  to  act  as  modera- 
tor of  the  Session. 

Mr.  Potter  signified  his  willingness,  at  this  time,  to 
accept  the  call  of  the  congregation. 

Dr.  George  P.  Rex,  and  Elder  A.  J.  Prall  were  ap- 
pointed commissioners  to  prosecute  this  call  before  Pres- 
bytery, to  be  held  at  Titusville,  June  the  26th. 

Mrs.  Rebecca  Case,  wife  of  Winfield  Case,  was  received 
at  this  meeting  of  the  Session,  on  examination  into  the 
membership  of  the  Church. 

Mr.  Frederick  Powelson  and  his  wife,  Emma  Powel- 
son,  were  dismissed  to  the  Second  Reformed  Church  of 
Somerville,  N.  J.  Also  Mrs.  Anna  Sweitzer  to  the 
same  Church.     Mr.  David  S.  Prall  and  his  wife,  Rosa, 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      285 

to  the  Congregational  Church  of  Albion,  Nebraska. 
Mrs.  Susie  Hoagland  nee  Cronce  to  the  Reformed 
Church  of  East  Millstone,  N.  J. 

The  Commissioners  appeared  before  Presbytery  June 
26th,  at  Titusville,  and  laid  the  call  before  Presbytery. 
Presbytery  placed  the  call  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Potter, 
which  was  accepted  by  him.  Arrangements  were  then 
made  for  his  installation.  July  17  th  was  the  day  named 
for  this  service.  The  Committee  of  Presbytery,  being 
present,  performed  the  respective  duties  assigned  them. 

In  this  service  Rev.  Samuel  M.  Studdiford,  D.  D., 
of  the  Third  Church,  Trenton,  preached  the  sermon, 
presided,  and  proposed  the  constitutional  questions.  The 
Rev.  Wm.  H.  Wolverton,  of  the  Second  Church  of 
Trenton,  gave  the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  the  Rev.  J. 
P.  W.  Blattenberger,  of  Bridesburg,  Pa.,  on  invitation, 
gave  the  charge  to  the  people.  The  Elders  of  the 
Church  at  this  time  were  William  G.  Hill,  James  P. 
Chamberlin,  Abraham  J.  Prall,  Martin  J.  Bellis,  Caleb  F. 
Quick  and  George  P.  Rex,  M.  D. 

The  first  meeting  of  Session,  after  the  installation  of 
Mr.  Potter,  was  held  September  2nd,  1888.  At  this  time 
Mr.  Jonathan  T.  Conover  was  received  on  examination, 
and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  M.  Potter,  Mrs.  Lizzie  Higgins,  and 
Mrs.  Isaac  Wyckoff,  by  letter. 

December  ist,  1888,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  H.  Hors- 
fall  were  received  by  letter  from  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  New  Vernon,  N.  J.,  and  Mr.  Asher  Higgins,  Charles 
F.  Creveling,  M.  D.,  and  Malvina  Baird  (colored)  were 
received  on  examination.  The  Session  convened  March 
2nd,   1889,  and  received  on  examination  Messrs.  Alvin 


286  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Hill,  Lewis  C.  Sutphin  and  John  V.  M.  Wyckoff,  Mrs. 
Mary  E.  Carkhnff,  Mrs.  N.  M.  Resch;  also  the  Misses 
Anna  M.  Williamson,  Hannah  R.  Swarer  and  Hannah 
E.  Hoagland;  and  by  letter  from  the  Kirkpatrick 
Memorial  Church,  Mr.  John  C.  Williamson. 

This  closed  the  first  year  of  Mr.  Potter's  pastorate, 
which  proved  to  be  one  of  prosperity  for  the  Church.  He 
had  one  thing  of  great  advantage  both  to  himself  and 
the  Church,  which  was  a  goodly  number  of  young  peo- 
ple in  the  congregation  at  the  time,  ready  to  be  gathered 
in.  The  like  of  it  has  not  existed  since.  But  it  is  great- 
ly to  his  credit  that  he  succeeded  in  winning  these 
for  the  Church  and  the  Master.  In  all,  the  additions 
for  this  first  year  numbered  thirteen,  as  received  on  ex- 
amination, and  six  by  certificate,  which  is  exactly  the  num- 
ber dismissed  to  other  churches. 

In  the  minute  for  June  ist,  1889,  it  is  stated:  that  it 
was  decided  to  conform  to  the  usual  custom,  and  dis- 
continue the  evening  service  of  the  Church  during  the 
busy  season. 

November  24th,  1889,  the  pastor  gave  notice  of  his 
intention  to  resign  the  pastorate  of  the  Church,  that  he 
might  accept  a  call  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Cedar 
Falls,  Iowa.  This  call,  he  stated,  had  been  made  two 
months  previous,  and  had  been  declined.  It  was  re- 
newed, and  he  had  decided  to  accept  it. 

A  meeting  of  the  Congregation  was  called  by  the  Ses- 
sion to  be  held  November  25th.  At  this  meeting  William 
G.  Hill  was  made  Chairman,  and  C.  F.  Quick  Secretary. 
At  this  meeting  it  was  decided  to  accede  to  the  pastor's 
request,  and  unite  with  him  in  asking  Presbytery  to  dis- 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      287 

solve  the  relation  between  himself  and  the  Amwell  First 
Church,  to  take  effect  December  22nd. 

The  commissioners  appointed  to  represent  the  Church 
at  the  meeting  of  Presbytery  were  Elders  Wm.  G.  Hill 
and  Martin  J.  Bellis,  and  Trustee  Theodore  F.  Swarer. 

It  was  not  until  November  30th,  1889,  that  there  were 
any  additions  to  the  Church,  during  the  second  year  of 
Mr.  Potter's  pastorate.  At  this  time  the  Session  re- 
ceived on  examination  to  the  membership  of  the  Church 
Miss  Mary  Hoffman,  Miss  Laura  E.  Dilts,  Miss  Mary  L. 
Dilts,  Johnson  B.  Pierce,  William  L.  Van  Syckle  and 
Robert  M.  Conover.  This  was  the  last  meeting  of  Ses- 
sion of  which  Mr.  Potter  was  Moderator. 

Mr.  Potter's  pastorate  closed  by  action  of  Presbytery, 
December  22nd,  1889,  having  continued  one  year  and 
six  months,  or  dating  from  the  time  he  signified  his  ac- 
ceptance of  your  call,  at  which  time  he  moderated  the 
meeting  of  Session  on  invitation,  when  one  person  was 
received  into  the  membership  of  the  Church,  its  dura- 
tion was  one  year  and  seven  months.  This  is  the  short- 
est pastorate  in  the  history  of  the  Church.  But  though 
brief,  it  was  characterized  by  marked  prosperity  in  the 
Church,  and  in  this  short  period  he  impressed  the  Church 
with  his  faithfulness,  and  he  and  his  excellent  wife 
greatly  endeared  themselves  to  the  people  of  the  con- 
gregation. 

To  Mr.  Potter  belongs  the  credit  of  having  organized 
the  Christian  Endeavor  Society,  which  under  the  inspira- 
tion of  his  leadership  and  with  the  goodly  number  of 
young  people  at  the  time  in  the  Church,  became  a  great 
blessing  to  the  Church. 


288  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Mr.  Potter  was  also  faithful  in  promoting  the  cause 
of  benevolence,  so  that  creditable  contributions  were 
made  to  all  the  Boards  of  the  Church. 

The  statistics  of  the  Church  for  the  first  year  are  as 
follows:  Received  on  examination  thirteen;  and  the 
second  year  six,  and  six  by  letter,  making  twenty-five  in 
all.  Total  membership  one  hundred  and  forty-seven. 
There  were  six  Elders  and  five  Deacons.  Sabbath  School 
members  one  hundred. 

The  contributions  to  the  Boards  of  the  Church  for 
the  first  year  were  $201,  of  which  $72  were  for  For- 
eign Missions.  To  General  Assembly  $12,  and  Mis- 
cellaneous Causes,  the  unusual  sum  of  $206,  making  a 
total  of  $419  to  causes  of  benevolence.  The  salary  was 
$800,  and  for  other  expenses  of  the  Church,  $7CX)  were 
contributed. 

The  second  year  is  only  partly  covered  by  his  pastor- 
ate. The  total  contributions  for  the  year  are:  to  the 
Boards  $157,  of  which  $53  were  for  Foreign  Missions; 
$15  for  General  Assembly,  and  $20  to  Miscellaneous 
Causes.  Or  to  outside  causes  $177,  and  for  Congrega- 
tional expenses  $1420. 

Mr.  Potter,  in  making  request  for  the  dissolution  of 
the  pastoral  relation,  gratefully  acknowledged  the  uni- 
form kindness  shown  him  by  the  congregation.  The 
Church  recriprocated  by  expressing  their  deep  regret  that 
he  was  about  to  leave  them. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Session  held  November  30th,  the 
commissioners  were  instructed  to  ask  permission  of  Pres- 
bytery to  supply  their  own  pulpit  until  the  next  stated 
meeting  of  the  same.     Also  to  request  Presbytery  to  ap- 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      289 

point  Rev.  Charles  W.  Pitcher,  pastor  of  the  Kirkpatrick 
Memorial  Church,  to  act  as  Moderator  of  the  Session 
for  the  same  period. 

Following  the  record  of  Mr.  Potter's  pastorate  a  few 
facts  of  his  personal  history  will  be  of  interest  to  this 
congregation. 

Mr.  Potter's  father  was  Rev.  L.  D.  Potter,  D.  D., 
born  at  New  Providence,  New  Jersey,  and  at  the  time 
Mr.  Potter  was  with  you  and  long  afterwards  Dr. 
Potter,  the  father,  was  President  of  Glendale  Female 
College,  Glendale,  Ohio,  over  which  institution  he  pre- 
sided over  forty  years.  The  mother  of  Rev.  Thomas 
Chalmers  Potter  was  Henrietta  M.  Ketcham,  of  Penn- 
ington, N.  J.  Mr.  Potter,  Sr.,  graduated  at  Princeton 
College  in  1841,  having  as  classmates  Drs.  Duffield,  Cuy- 
ler  and  Schenck.  He  graduated  from  Princeton  Theo- 
logical Seminary  in  1844. 

Rev.  Thomas  C.  Potter  was  bom  at  Dunlapsville,  In- 
diana. 

He  prepared  for  College  at  South  Salem,  Ohio,  and 
graduated  at  Hanover  College,  Indiana,  in  1874,  and 
was  a  post-graduate  of  Princeton  College  in  1877,  in  the 
department  of  Philosophy.  He  graduated  at  Princeton 
Theological  Seminary  in  1880.  He  married  Miss  Eliz- 
abeth H.  McMuUin,  at  Circleville,  Ohio,  in  April, 
1 88 1.  Her  father  was  Rev.  S.  H.  McMullin,  D.  D., 
professor  of  Greek  at  Miami  University,  Oxford,  Ohio, 
and  afterward  a  professor  in  the  Danville  Theological 
Seminary,  Kentucky. 

The  pastorates  held  by  Mr.  Potter  up  to  the  time  of 
the  anniversary  exercises  of  the  Church  were  DenisSh, 

19 


290  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Iowa,  Reaville,  New  Jersey,  and  Cedar  Falls,  Iowa. 
Losing  his  hearing,  he  retired  from  the  pastorate  for  a 
while.  At  present  (the  time  of  revising  this  history)  he 
is  pastor  of  the  Presbyteryian  Church  at  Glasgow,  Dela- 
ware. During  his  pastorate  at  Glasgow,  he  has  been  a 
very  frequent  contributor  to  the  Presbyterian  of  Phila- 
delphia. In  his  last  communication  to  me,  which  re- 
lated to  this  history,  he  repeated  his  expression  of  his 
pleasant  memories  of  the  uniform  kindness  of  this  con- 
gregation to  himself  and  Mrs.  Potter,  and  I  personally 
know  that  this  feeling  continues  to  be  reciprocated. 

APPENDIX   NO.    I — ELDER  GEORGE   P.   REX,   M.   D. 

The  death  of  Elder  Dr.  George  P.  Rex  occurred  July 
1 2th,  1889,  and  only  three  months  before  Rev.  Thomas 
C.  Potter  was  released  from  the  pastorate  of  this  Church. 
By  an  oversight  or  neglect  on  the  part  of  the  Session, 
no  record  was  made  of  his  death  in  the  minutes. 

This  is  regretted  by  myself,  because,  as  in  the  case 
of  Elder  Bellis,  I  had  no  personal  acquaintance  with 
Dr.  Rex.  But  notwithstanding  the  disadvantages  under 
which  I  write.  Dr.  Rex's  services  were  too  important  to 
this  Church  for  me  to  allow  his  name,  and  some  men- 
tion of  what  he  did  in  behalf  of  the  Church  to  be  omit- 
ted from  this  history. 

George  P.  Rex  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  September 
2nd,  1 81 3.  After  leaving  a  Classical  School  in  Phila- 
delphia, he  placed  himself  under  the  instruction  of  Dr. 
George  McClellan,  father  of  Gen.  George  B.  McClel- 
lan,  as  a  medical  student,  and  soon  after  entered  Jefferson 
Medical  Collegp,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1834,  be- 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      291 

ing,  as  you  will  see,  not  quite  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
In  that  same  year  Dr.  Rex  settled  in  Clover  Hill,  and 
began  the  practice  of  Medicine.  In  1836  he  married 
Gertrude  V.,  daughter  of  Jacob  Williamson,  Esq.  In 
1837  he  moved  to  Reaville,  or.  Greenville,  as  it  then 
was  called,  where  he  remained  until  1856.  During  this 
period  of  nineteen  years,  his  skill  and  faithfulness  se- 
cured for  him  a  large  practice,  and  won  for  him  the  es- 
teem of  the  medical  profession  of  the  county,  of  whose 
organization  he  became  a  member  as  early  as  May  3rd, 
1836,  and  was  made  its  Treasurer  in  1850,  and  one  of 
the  board  of  censors  from  1848  to  1853. 

"Dr.  Rex,  and  his  wife,"  so  stands  the  record,  "pre- 
sented themselves  before  the  Session  of  this  Church  Sep- 
tember 6th,  1838,  and  were  received  into  the  fellowship 
of  this  church  on  profession  of  their  faith  in  Christ." 
The  pastor  at  the  time  was  the  Rev.  David  Hull.  Mrs. 
Rex  being  still  with  us,  she  heads  the  list  of  the  living 
members  of  this  church,  and  precedes  the  next  living 
member  by  a  period  of  eight  years.  She  has  now  en- 
tered upon  the  sixty-third  year  of  her  Church  mem- 
bership, though  it  should  be  added,  that  for  a  portion 
of  this  time  she  has  lived  in  other  communities,  and  held 
membership  in  other  churches. 

March  loth,  1838,  Dr.  Rex  was  made  a  member  of 
the  "Committee  appointed  to  solicit  subscriptions  for 
erecting  a  new  meeting  house,  which  was  to  be  located 
at  or  near  Greenville.  It  was  subsequently  decided  to 
build  by  contract,  and  the  Committee  to  contract  for 
the  building  was  appointed  August  i8th,  1838,  consist- 
ing of  John  Hagaman,  George  F.  Wilson,  Gideon  Quick, 


292  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Jacob  W.  Schenck  and  George  P.  Rex.  At  the  same 
time  a  Committee  of  three  was  appointed  to  revise  and 
file  all  the  proceedings  of  this  congregation  regarding  the 
erection  of  the  Church,  John  Hagaman,  Peter  P.  Quick 
and  George  P.  Rex  we're  the  Committee  thus  appointed. 
This  Committee  had  the  disposal  of  the  Old  Meeting 
House,  and  was  the  Building  Committee  of  the  new. 
Dr.  Rex  was  at  the  same  time  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees,  and  the  whole  proceedings  concerning  the 
building  of  the  New  Church  were  recorded  by  him. 
Thus  early  in  life,  he  became  intimately  identified  with 
the  interests  of  this  Church. 

In  1856  he  removed  to  Perry,  111.  While  there  he  be- 
came identified  with  the  educational  interests  of  the 
State.  In  1861  he  entered  the  service  of  the  Government 
as  Surgeon  of  the  33rd  Illinois  Infantry,  and  served 
throughout  the  conflict  as  Division  Surgeon  and  Medi- 
cal Director.  After  the  war,  he  resided  in  Selma,  Ala- 
bama, where  he  held  positions  of  great  responsibility  un- 
der Government  appointment  during  the  presidency  of 
General  Grant. 

We  have  to  do,  however,  with  his  connection  with  this 
Church,  rather  than  in  other  departments  of  usefulness. 
In  1 87 1,  his  health  failing,  he  returned  to  Reaville,  where 
he  resumed  his  connection  with  this  Church,  October 
14th,  1 87 1,  by  certificate  from  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Selma,  Alabama,  as  well  as  the  practice  of  medicine. 

April  27th,  1872,  he  was  ordained  to  the  office  of 
Ruling  Elder,  together  with  John  Y.  Bellis  and  Abra- 
ham J.  Prall,  during  the .  pastorate  of  Rev.  John  H. 
Scoficld.    Dr.  Rex  was  chosen  Clerk  of  the  Session  Feb- 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      293 

ruary  28th,  1874,  and  the  minutes  of  the  Session  were 
written  by  him  for  many  years.  February  28th,  1885, 
Dr.  Rex,  "on  account  of  increasing  years  and  imfirmity," 
handed  in  his  resignation  as  Clerk  of  Session.  His  last 
meeting  with  the  Session  was  March  ist,  1884.  But  on 
the  5th  of  September,  1885,  he  was  requested  to  prepare 
a  minute  on  the  death  of  Elder  Zebulon  Stout.  He 
complied  with  this  request,  but  being  too  feeble  to  at- 
tend the  Session,  December  5th,  1885,  he  sent  in  the 
minute,  containing  expressions  of  high  appreciation  for 
the  Christian  character  of  Brother  Stout,  and  deep  sor- 
row on  account  of  his  death.  This  appears  to  have  been 
the  last  service  he  performed  for  the  Session.  Dr.  Rex 
had  the  honor  of  being  chosen  President  of  the  Hunter- 
don County  Bible  Society,  August  15th,  1876,  to  preside 
over  its  meeting  the  following  year. 

Dr.  Rex  departed  this  life  July  12th,  1889,  having 
been  a  member  of  this  or  some  other  Church  for  upwards 
of  fifty-one  years,  and  a  Ruling  Elder  upwards  of  seven- 
teen year.  Honorable  as  such  a  record  is,  I  am  per- 
suaded that  the  most  beneficent  and  lasting  service  which 
he  rendered  the  Church  and  the  Master,  was  either  as 
teacher  in,  or  Superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  School.  It 
is  deeply  to  be  regretted  that  the  records  of  our  Sabbath 
School,  except  for  a  few  recent  years,  are  not  to  be 
found.  For  this  reason  we  cannot  State  with  accuracy, 
the  years  of  service  he  rendered  our  School,  but  it  is 
known  that  he  was  thus  actively  engaged  for  many  years 
before  leaving  for  the  west,  and  again  after  his  return 
in   1 87 1.     From  that  date,  up  to  the  time  he  was  en- 


294  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

feebled  by  age,  I  believe  he  was  the  Superintendent  of 
the  School. 

After  such  a  career,  we  may  with  propriety  close  this 
tribute  by  quoting  a  sentence  from  a  local  paper,  pub- 
lished at  the  time  of  the  Doctor's  death.  It  is  this: 
''After  a  long  and  useful  life,  Dr.  George  P.  Rex  goes 
down  to  the  grave,  leaving  behind  him  the  memory  of 
an  honored  career,  and  a  record  that  is  bright  with  good 
deeds." 

THE  SEVENTEENTH   PASTOR,  REV.  JOHN  R.  KUGLER, 
1890 — 1900. 

After  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Potter,  the  Church  was 
without  a  pastor  from  December  22nd,  1889,  to  April 
1st,  1890,  when  I  took  charge  of  the  Church  as  pastor- 
elect.  During  the  interval  between  pastors,  the  usual 
method  of  supplies  and  candidates  was  adopted  for  fill- 
ing the  pulpit,  the  supply  most  frequently  called  upon  was 
my  college  professor,  Rev.  Henry  C.  Cameron,  D.  D.,  of 
Princeton.  Among  the  candidates  were  Rev.  Theo.  E. 
Montgomery,  and  myself,  at  the  time  pastor  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Hoboken,  N.  J.  I  first  occupied  the 
pulpit  January  12th,  1890.  By  order  of  the  Session,  a 
congregational  meeting  was  held  February  4th,  1890,  for 
the  purpose,  if  the  way  be  clear,  of  calling  a  pastor.  At 
this  meeting  the  Rev.  Charles  W.  Pitcher  of  the  Kirk- 
patrick  Memorial  Church,  being  Moderator  of  the  Ses- 
sion, presided.  Theodore  F.  Swarer  was  chosen  Secre- 
tary. The  only  nomination  made  was  myself,  and  the 
nomination  was  followed  by  a  unanimous  vote  to  the 
pastorate  of  the  Church.     The  call  thus  made  named 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1 8201900      295 

$800  as  the  salary  to  be  paid  semi-annually,  together 
with  the  free  use  of  the  parsonage  during  my  pastorate, 
and  a  yearly  vacation  of  three  weeks.  The  call  was  thus 
made  out  and  signed  as  directed  by  the  congregation,  by 

William  G.  Hill, 
Caleb  F.  Quick, 

Eders. 
John  E.  Holcombe^ 
Lewis  Sutphin, 

Deacons. 
John  B.  Lowe, 
Theodore  F.  Swarer^ 

Trustees. 

Elders  Hill  and  Quick  were  appointed  Commissioners 
to  prosecute  the  call  before  Presbytery, 

On  being  officially  notified  of  the  call,  I  expressed  will- 
ingness to  accept  it. 

The  Rev.  T.  E.  Montgomery  supplied  the  pulpit 
March  ist.  At  this  date,  on  invitation  of  Session,  he 
acted  as  Moderator  of  the  same,  at  which  time  Eugene 
Latourette  was  received,  on  examination  to  the  mem- 
bership of  the  Church.  On  invitation  I  occupied  the 
pulpit  March  i6th,  and  took  charge  of  the  Church  from 
April  1st  as  pastor-elect.  The  Presbytery  of  New  Bruns- 
wick, in  session  at  the  Third  Church  Trenton,  April 
8th,  received  me  on  letter  from  the  Presbytery  of  Jer- 
sey City,  and  on  examination  as  to  my  reception  of  the 
standards  of  the  Church.  At  this  time  the  Presbytery 
placed  In  my  hands  the  call  from  the  Amwell  First 
Church,  which  being  accepted  by  me,  arrangements  were 


296  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

made  for  my  installation.  This  was  ordered  to  take 
place  May  the  27th,  1890,  and  the  following  persons 
were  appointed  to  perform  the  service:  The  Moderator 
of  Session,  Rev.  Charles  W.  Pitcher,  to  preside  and  pro- 
pose the  constitutional  questions;  the  Rev.  George  S. 
Mott,  D.  D.,  of  Flemington,  to  preach  the  sermon;  Rev. 
William  M.  Wells,  of  Amwell  United  First,  to  give  the 
charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Rev.  William  W.  Wolverton, 
of  the  Second  Church  of  Trenton,  to  give  the  charge 
to  the  people.  On  the  day  appointed,  the  Committee 
performed  the  duty  assigned,  except  that  the  Rev.  George 
Ingram,  of  Trenton  Fifth,  as  alternate,  gave  the  charge 
to  the  people.  The  day  was  auspicious,  the  audience 
large,  and  the  service  full  of  interest  to  all. 

The  first  meeting  of  Session  after  my  installation  was 
held  May  31st.  At  this  meeting  all  the  Elders  were 
present,  viz:  Caleb  F.  Quick,  William  G.  Hill,  Abra- 
ham J.  Prall,  James  P.  Chamberlin  and  Martin  J.  Bel- 
lis.  At  this  time  the  following  persons  presented  them- 
selves before  Session,  and  after  examination,  were  re- 
ceived into  the  membership  of  the  Church,  viz:  Alfred 
Reasinger,  Ira  Hill,  Joseph  Higgins,  Bessie  Hill,  Lena 
Wyckoff  and  Jennie  V.  C.  Staats.  The  following  day, 
June  1st,  these  persons  made  a  public  profession  of  their 
faith  and  promise  of  new  obedience,  and  baptism  was  ad- 
ministered to  all  except  Miss  Staats,  who  had  received 
this  rite  in  infancy. 

The  pastor's  wife,  Mrs.  Annie  Cramer  Kugler,  was 
received  by  letter  from  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Ho- 
boken,  on  Saturday.  At  the  same  time  Elder  Martin  J. 
Bellls  reported  that  Mrs.  Margaret,  wife  of  Jacob  Case,  of 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      297 

Three  Bridges,  who  had  long  been  confined  to  her  home 
by  sickness,  was  desirous  of  being  received  into  the  mem- 
bership of  the  Church,  whereupon,  the  Session  decided  to 
meet  with  her  at  her  home  on  Sabbath  afternoon,  and 
if  the  way  be  clear,  receive  her  to  the  Church  and  the 
Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper.  At  the  time  designated, 
the  Session,  with  members  of  their  families,  met  with 
Mrs.  Case,  and  after  examination  admitted  her  to 
Church  membership,  and  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
supper  being  duly  administered  for  her  especial  benefit. 

Annie  Higgins  Case,  daughter  of  Mrs.  Margaret  Case, 
being  unable  to  meet  with  the  Session  on  Saturday,  was 
received  Sabbath  morning,  June  ist,  and  the  Sacrament 
of  baptism  was  administered  to  her  along  with  others 
received  on  Saturday.  At  a  meeting  of  Session  held 
December  6th,  1890,  the  pastor  laid  before  the  Session  the 
cause  of  Foreign  Missions.  The  members  of  Session 
were  urged  to  give  this  great  cause  prayerful  considera- 
tion, and  appealed  to  them  to  increase  their  own  gifts  to 
this  and  the  other  causes  of  beneficence,  and  likewise  to  make 
an  effort  to  enlist  the  co-operation  of  the  members  of  the 
Church  to  take  a  deeper  interest  in  the  causes  represented 
by  the  various  Boards  of  the  Church. 

This  action  is  deserving  of  mention  here  at  the  begin- 
ning of  my  pastorate,  because  I  had  decided  to  lay  stress 
on  this  department  of  usefulness  and  growth  during  my 
pastorate.  In  this  endeavor  I  had  the  most  cordial  and 
constant  co-operation  of  Mrs.  Kugler.  And  the  records 
show  that  what  growth  in  beneficence  was  secured  by 
the  Church,  was  rather  with  the  Christian  women  of 
the  Church,   in  and   through  their  missionary  societies, 


298  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

than  by  the  whole  Church  as  a  part  of  its  organic  work. 
And  here,  it  was  rather  by  securing  a  larger  number  of 
contributors,  than  by  larger  contributions  from  any  indi- 
vidual members.  At  the  same  meeting  of  Session,  it 
was  decided  to  observe  the  Week  of  Prayer  by  the 
Church,  and  to  follow  this  service  with  evangelistic  ser- 
vices. 

The  regular  quarterly  meeting  of  Session  was  held 
February  28th,  previous  to  preparatory  service.  To 
avoid  lengthening  this  history,  already  much  longer  than 
designed,  the  following  meetings  of  Session  will  be 
stated  with  less  detail  of  organization,  than  has  been 
given  under  the  preceding  pastorates.  At  the  meeting  of 
Session  Robert  Boyd  and  Elizabeth  P.,  his  wife,  was  re- 
ceived by  letter  from  the  Reformed  Church  of  Clover 
Hill.  At  the  same  time  Mrs.  Josephine,  wife  of  Henry 
Daniels,  Miss  Florence  A.  Boyd  and  Howard  C.  Sutphin 
were  admitted  to  Church  membership  on  examination. 

George  H.  Hoesfall  and  wife  were  at  their  own  re- 
quest dismissed  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Franklin, 
Pa. 

As  the  result  of  the  effort  for  increased  beneficence  our 
first  report  to  Presbytery  showed  a  total  of  $244  for  the 
work  of  the  various  Boards  of  the  Church,  of  which 
$112  was  for  Foreign  Missions.  Of  this  sum  the  Wo- 
men's Society  contributed  $75.  While  the  money  they 
raised  for  the  Home  Board,  was  divided,  so  as  to  aid 
the  Church  in  making  up  its  allotment  for  Synodical 
Home  Missions.  The  other  Boards  were  all  aided.  The 
Congregational  expenses  were  for  salary  $800,  and  in- 
cidentals $401. 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      299 

The  total  membership  reported  was  157,  which  was 
greater  than  the  number  on  the  grounds.  Received  dur- 
ing the  first  year,  1 1  on  examination  and  three  by  letter ; 
and  two  were  dismissed  by  letter  to  other  churches. 

June  6th,  1891,  Session  received  Cornelius  Miller  and 
Mary  Whitenack,  his  wife,  by  letter,  from  the  Reformed 
Church  of  Three  Bridges,  and  at  the  same  time  dismissed 
Mrs.  Abbie  G.  WyckofE  and  John,  her  son,  to  the  Re- 
formed Church  of  Rarltan,  and  Mrs.  Mary  Prall  Phillips 
to  the  Amwell  Second  Church.  The  pastor  reminded 
the  Session  of  the  fact  that  at  the  Congregational  meet- 
ing March  30,  he  had  obtained  leave  of  absence  for  four 
or  five  months,  that  he  and  Mrs.  Kugler  might  visit 
Europe.  This  was  asked  and  granted  on  condition  that 
he  supply  the  pulpit  at  his  own  expense  during  his  ab- 
sence, excepting  for  the  three  weeks  granted  for  his 
vacation.  He  now  informed  the  Session  that  he  had 
engaged  for  this  service  the  Rev.  Alexander  McWIl- 
liam  of  the  Reformed  Church,  residing  at  Somervllle, 
and  at  present  without  charge.  The  selection  met  with 
the  approval  of  Session.  The  first  meeting  of  Session 
after  this  period  of  absence  was  held  December  5  th,  at 
which  time  Charles  H.  Snook  (colored)  was  received 
on  examination  to  Church  membership;  and  by  letter 
Session  received  from  the  Reformed  Church  of  Queens, 
L.  I.,  John  L.  Burke,  and  Sarah,  his  wife,  and  Pearl, 
their  daughter;  also  Morris  W.  Robinson  and  Lizzie  J. 
Stiger,  his  wife. 

The  pastor  reminded  Session  of  the  death  of  Elder 
Wm.  G.  Hill,  which  had  occurred  during  his  absence  in 
Europe.    The  pastor  and  Elder  Quick  were  appointed  a 


300  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Committee  to  bring  in  a  minute  in  the  near  future,  on 
the  death  of  Mr.  Hill. 

Sabbath  morning  Elmer  White  was  admitted,  after 
examination,  to  Church  membership.  Both  he  and 
Charles  Snook  received  baptism  previous  to  the  adminis- 
tration oi  the  Lord's  supper. 

January  31st,  1892,  a  letter  of  dismission  was  given 
to  Jonathan  T.  Conover  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Washington,  N.  J.  March  5th  Charles  T.  Hocken- 
bury,  Ellen  Cora  Young  and  James  Woodburn  Wilson 
were  received  on  examination  to  the  membership  of  this 
Church.  At  their  public  profession.  Sabbath  morning, 
Mr.  Hockenbury  and  Miss  Young  received  the  rite  of 
baptism. 

Mrs.  Sarah  Catherine  Hill,  wife  of  Lewis  Huff,  was 
received  on  certificate  from  the  Reformed  Church  at 
Clover  Hill,  and  Mrs.  Anna  Munson,  wife  of  Wood- 
burn  Wilson,  from  the  Reformed  Church  of  Three 
Bridges. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  bring  in  a  minute  on  the 
death  of  Elder  Hill  reported  at  this  meeting,  substan- 
tially, as  follows: 

Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  Elder  Wm.  G.  Hill, 
which  took  place  August  21st,  1891,  this  Church  has 
lost  a  most  worthy  member  and  faithful  office-bearer. 
This  faithfulness  was  shown  during  the  entire  period  of 
his  official  life,  extending  over  more  than  twenty-one 
years,  from  March  20th,  1870,  to  the  date  of  his  death. 

Second.  We  regarded  him  as  a  man  wise  in  counsel, 
strong  in  faith,  with  an  exalted  sense  of  the  responsibil- 
ity of  his  office  and  unswerving  in  his  devotion  to  duty. 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      301 

(As  illustration:  See  his  action  in  refusing  to  put  a 
motion  when  out  of  order,  in  case  of  Rev.  Beekman). 

Third.  We,  the  surviving  members  of  Session,  have 
been  deeply  impressed  by  the  sincerity  of  his  piety,  shown  by 
his  zeal  for  the  Church  and  the  Master.  We  shall  deeply 
miss  his  godly  example  and  encouraging  presence. 

The  report  was  adopted. 

Closing  the  second  year  we  reported  to  General  As- 
sembly, a  small  increase  in  membership  and  also  in  the 
sum  paid  for  congregational  expenses,  caused  chiefly  by 
putting  a  new  furnace  in  the  parsonage,  which  was 
granted  when  the  pastor  and  his  wife  agreed  to  pay  fifty 
dollars  on  the  same;  fifty-seven  was  the  sum  paid  by 
them.  It  is  regretted  that  there  was  a  small  decrease 
in  the  beneficence  of  the  Church  as  compared  with  the 
previous  year.  At  the  beginning  of  our  third  year  with 
the  Church  the  Session  granted,  April  4th,  1892,  the  fol- 
lowing letters:  to  Theodore  F.  Swarer,  dismissing  him 
to  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Clinton,  N.  J.;  to  Joseph 
S.  Higgins  and  Lizzie,  his  wife,  to  the  Reformed  Church 
of  Branchville,  N.  J.;  May  25th,  to  Miss  Hannah 
Swarer  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Clinton,  and  to 
the  Misses  Caroline  V.  D.  and  Catherine  Case  to  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Flemington. 

June  4th,  Session  received  on  examination  Augustus 
Lebler  and  Augusta,  his  wife,  and  on  certificate,  Mrs. 
Mary  Elizabeth  Kane  from  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Rpselle,  and  June  5th,  Mrs.  V.  D.  S.  Hill,  wife 
of  Horace  Herder,  from  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Pennington.    July  24th  a  letter  was  granted  Mrs.  Mary 


302  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

L.  Karkuff,  wife  of  Jacob,  dismissing  her  to  the  Re- 
formed Church  of  Annandale,  N.  J. 

September  3rd,  Robert  R.  Smith  was  received  on  ex- 
amination to  Church  membership.  September  nth,  the 
Session  convened  at  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Low,  and  sit- 
ting at  the  bedside  of  her  very  sick  grandson,  received 
him,  on  examination,  into  the  Church  and  to  both  Sac- 
raments, which  were  then  administered. 

November  2nd,  certificates  were  granted  Mrs.  Anna 
Munson,  widow  of  the  late  Woodburn  Wilson,  dis- 
missing her  to  the  Kirkpatrick  Memorial  Church,  and  to 
John  L.  Burke,  Sarah  E.,  his  wife,  and  Pearl,  their 
daughter,  to  the  Williams  Avenue  M.  E.  Church,  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y. 

December  3rd,  Mrs.  Julia  E.,  wife  of  Charles  F. 
Creveling,  M.  D.,  was  received  by  letter  from  the  M. 
E.  Church  of  Phillipsburg,  N.  J.,  and  Mrs.  Jane  Ann 
Quick  and  Jesse  B.  Conover  were  received  on  examina- 
tion to  membership  of  this  Church. 

March  3,  1893,  ^  letter  was  granted  Mrs.  Hannah 
M.  Smith  to  St.  Paul's  M.  E.  Church,  Trenton,  N.  J. 
At  the  same  time  William  B.  Prall,  Jr.,  was  received 
into  this  Church  on  examination,  and  John  Young  by 
letter  from  the  Reformed  Church  of  Branchville,  N.  J. 
March  12th,  Mrs.  Edward  H.  Stout,  nee  Susie  E. 
Hoagland,  was  dismissed  by  letter  to  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Lambertville,  N.  J. 

March  31st,  for  the  year,  the  record  is  six  received  on 
examination  and  four  by  letter,  while  thirteen  were  dis- 
missed to  other  churches,  and  three  died,  leaving  a  total 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      303 

of  150.  At  the  same  time  the  Church  made  decided 
gains  in  beneficence  in  all  departments. 

The  Session  granted  a  certificate  July  23rd,  1893,  to 
Mrs.  Gertrude  V.  M.  Peterson,  dismissing  her  to  the 
Second  Reformed  Church  of  Somerville,  N.  J.  Mrs- 
Peterson  had  left  the  Church  in  1891,  but  did  not  call 
for  her  certificate  until  this  time.  It  should  be  added 
that  Mrs.  Peterson  had  served  the  Church  as  organist 
and  leading  soprano  for  many  years,  with  great  faithful- 
ness and  efficiency,  and  her  removal  from  us  has  been 
felt  as  a  severe  loss  to  the  Church. 

August  19th,  letters  w^ere  granted  to  Deacon  John 
Emilie  Holcombe  and  his  wife,  Emma  A.  Skillman,  to 
the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Flemington.  August  23rd, 
Mrs.  Rhoda  F.,  widow  of  Paul  Quick,  was  dismissed  to 
the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Hopewell.  On  the  30th, 
Henry  C.  Kline  and  his  wife,  Jennie  C.  Young,  from 
the  Reformed  Church  of  Branchville.  At  the  same  time 
the  pastor  informed  Session  that  Miss  Bessie  Smith,  who 
had  been  organist  since  the  removal  of  Mrs.  Peterson, 
was  about  to  leave  the  community,  and  asked  Session  to 
appoint  a  Committee  to  secure  some  one  to  fill  her  place. 
Elder  Wm.  J.  Bellis  and  I.  S.  Lowe  were  made  such 
Committee. 

December  22nd,  Mrs.  Cora  L.  Smith,  wife  of  D. 
Whitney  Smith,  was  dismissed  to  the  Second  Presbyter- 
ian Church  of  Princeton.  The  Music  Committee  re- 
ported that  they  had  engaged  Miss  Bessie  Hill  to  take 
the  place  of  organist  in  the  Church. 

At  this  meeting  of  Session  it  was  decided  to  observe 
the  week  of  prayer  as  has  been  our  uniform  custom,  and 


304  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

to  follow  this  with  such  evangelistic  services  as  may  seem 
advisable. 

January  28th,  1894,  the  Session  granted  certificates  to 
Abraham  W.  Prall  and  Mary  Elizabeth,  his  wife,  to  the 
Kirkpatrick  Memorial  Church.  February  i8th,  the  same 
to  Miss  Bessie  Smith  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Flem- 
ington,  and  March  3rd  to  Miss  Mary  Elizabeth  Kane 
to  the  Church  of  Roselle,  N.  J. 

At  this  time  Elder  C.  F.  Quick  was  reappointed  to 
act  with  the  pastor  in  the  cause  of  Foreign  Missions. 
The  year  closed  with  only  two  received,  while  eleven 
were  dismissed  to  other  churches  and  four  had  died,  giv- 
ing a  total  of  139  members.  Over  against  this  painful 
fact  was  the  cheering  one,  that  there  was  a  small  increase 
all  around  in  offerings  for  the  spread  of  the  gospel. 

July  2nd,  1894,  the  Session  received  from  the  M.  E. 
Church  of  Flemington  Samuel  Griggs,  Georgianna,  his 
wife,  and  Belle  C,  their  daughter;  also  Margaret  Hill 
Polhemus,  wife  of  Isaac  Lowe,  and  Alice  Van  Marter 
Polhemus,  wife  of  Johnson  B.  Pierce,  from  the  Reformed 
Church  of  Clover  Hill.  Anna  A.  Sutphen  was  received 
September  ist,  on  examination,  and  December  9th,  Mrs. 
Mary  C.  Karkuff,  from  the  Reformed  Church  of  An- 
nandale.  At  the  same  time  the  Session  determined  to 
observe  the  week  of  prayer,  and  follow  with  evangelistic 
service,  as  called  for. 

The  pastor  convened  Session  December  16,  and  re- 
minded the  members  of  the  serious  illness  of  Rev.  Wm. 
M.  Wells,  of  Amwell  United  First  Church,  and  asked 
the  privilege  of  rendering  that  Church  a  voluntary  ser- 
vice for  one  Sabbath,  as  was  being  done  by  other  churches 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1 820-1 900      305 

and  pastors  in  the  Presbytery.  This  was  cheerfully 
granted  by  the  Session,  at  the  same  time  agreeing  to 
hold  a  prayer  service  in  the  absence  of  the  pastor.  This 
service  was  rendered  for  Brother  Wells  the  first  Sab- 
bath of  January,  1895.  A  similar  arrangement  was  made 
for  Rev.  W.  H.  Filson  and  the  Church  at  Frenchtown, 
during  the  following  summer. 

According  to  the  decision  of  Session,  the  week  of 
prayer  at  the  beginning  of  the  year  was  followed  by  evan- 
gelistic services  for  seven  weeks.  These  services  resulted 
in  a  quickened  interest  among  the  members  of  the 
Church,  and  the  addition,  March  2nd,  1895,  ^^  examina- 
tion and  to  both  sacraments,  John  H.  Swarer,  Wil- 
mina  Rounsaville,  wife  of  J.  K.  Rounsaville,  Robert 
Smith,  Charles  Cronce,  Samuel  Gano,  Samuel  Hall, 
Elizabeth  E.  Walker  and  John  V.  Hoagland;  and  to 
the  Lord's  supper  only  Elizabeth  H.  Conover,  wife  of 
John  H.  Swarer,  John  Q.  Williamson,  Mary  Ann  Sloff, 
his  wife,  and  William  H.  Housel,  and  by  letter,  Eme- 
line  Conover,  wife  of  Peter,  from  the  Reformed  Church 
of  Clover  Hill,  Emily  V.  Conover,  wife  of  Charles  D. 
Wyckoff,  from  the  Reformed  Church  of  Readington; 
and  March  3rd,  Peter  H.  Conover  and  William  H.,  his 
son,  and  Sarah  Taylor  to  both  sacraments.  These  per- 
sons made  a  public  profession  of  their  faith  in  Christ 
and  entered  covenant  to  serve  him,  before  the  administra- 
tion of  the  sacraments,  Sabbath  morning. 

The  yearly  report  to  Presbytery  showed  our  largest 
increase  in  membership  and  again  an  increase  in  the  offer- 
ings of  the  Church  for  the  spread  of  the  gospel,  especially 

in  the  foreign  field.    The  sum  reached  for  Foreign  Mis- 
20 


3o6  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

sions  was  $119,  the  largest  sum  for  this  cause  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  Church.  For  all  these  blessings,  the  Church, 
and  especially  the  pastor  and  his  wife  were  very  grate- 
ful. And  while  our  Sabbath  School  reported  only  102 
members,  there  were  in  the  School  thirty  scholars  who 
were  Church  members. 

The  Session  received  April  20,  1895,  on  examination, 
Cora  B.  Rounsaville  and  Mrs.  Cornelia  R.  Smith,  wife 
of  Mahlon  Smith,  Jr.,  and  by  letter,  Mrs.  Mary  Ella  Holt, 
wife  of  W.  Y.  Holt,  from  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Flemington,  and  William  B.  Dungan  and  Phoebe,  his 
wife,  from  the  Kirkpatrick  Memorial  Church.  At  the 
same  time  Barton  Huffman  and  Sarah  R.  R.,  his  wife, 
were  dismissed  to  the  Kirkpatrick  Memorial  Church.  As 
the  pastor  had  obtained  leave  of  absence,  in  order  that 
he  and  his  wife  might  again  visit  Europe,  on  terms  simi- 
lar to  those  of  his  first  visit,  he  informed  the  Session 
that  there  would  be  uncertainty  about  his  reaching  home 
by  the  first  of  September,  the  Session,  by  unanimous  vote, 
agreed  that  the  communion  service  be  deferred  from  the 
first  to  the  Second  Sabbath  of  that  month,  so  that,  if 
spared,  he  might  be  with  them.  The  Session  was  in- 
formed that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Todd,  of  Cranford,  N.  J.,  an 
unemployed  minister  of  the  Reformed  Church,  had  been 
engaged  to  take  charge  of  the  pulpit,  during  the  pastor's 
absence,  and  this  was  approved.  At  the  meeting  of  Ses- 
sion, October  6th,  a  letter  was  given  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Wil- 
son, wife  of  Aurthur  Hoagland,  to  the  Reformed 
Church  of  Long  Branch,  and  to  Stephen  A.  Staats  and 
Martha  V.  Gulick,  his  wife,  to  the  Reformed  Church  of 
New  Brunswick. 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      307 

October  27,  certificates  were  granted  Mrs.  Ada  Hill 
and  Lizzie  Hill,  her  daughter,  to  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Flemington,  and  to  Samuel  Hall,  to  the  Reformed 
Church  of  Neshanic,  and  Florence  Boyd,  to  the  Kirk- 
patrick  Memorial  Church,  while  at  the  same  time  we 
received  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Dungan  from  that  Church. 
Mrs.  Jennie  C.  V.  Staats  was  dismissed  to  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Doylestown,  Pa.  The  week  of 
prayer  and  all  other  means  of  grace  were  observed  and 
used  with  conscious  faithfulness,  unless  it  be  while  the 
pastor  was  absent.  But  with  all  this,  the  year  has  been 
one  of  decrease,  rather  than  increase,  in  all  departments, 
so  far  as  numbers  may  express  the  conditions.  July  5th, 
1896,  Mrs.  Hannah  Hoagland  Wiggins  was  dismissed 
to  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Doylestown;  December 
5th,  Mrs.  Horace  Herder  was  dismissed  to  the  Reformed 
Church  of  Readington. 

The  conditions  of  this  Church  above  expressed,  ex- 
tended to  the  neighboring  Churches,  the  Amwell  United 
First,  and  the  Kirkpatrick  Memorial  Church. 

The  pastors  of  the  same,  the  Rev.  Samuel  H.  Potter 
and  the  Rev.  George  W.  S.  Wenrick  and  myself  agreed 
to  unite  in  an  effort  for  more  aggressive  work.  In  this 
we  had  the  cordial  co-operation  of  our  respective  Ses- 
sions, and  of  our  people  as  well.  The  plan  was  for  all 
to  unite  in  a  service  at  one  of  these  churches  one  night, 
and  at  another  the  next,  thus  keeping  up  a  continuous  inter- 
church  service.  This  was  commenced  November  8th, 
and  was  continued  for  four  weeks,  at  which  all  the 
pastors  were  present  with  one  or  two  exceptions,  and 
preached  for  each  other.    The  audiences  were  large,  the 


3o8  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

people  were  deeply  interested,  and  blessed  results  followed 
immediately  in  the  Memorial  Church  and  in  the  others 
the  good  influences  were  abiding,  and  the  ingathering 
came  following  the  week  of  prayer. 

The  Session  gave  a  certificate,  February  7th,  to  Mrs. 
Anna,  wife  of  George  R.  Hill,  dismissing  her  to  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Flemington,  and  to  J.  Jacob 
Kisz,  to  the  German  Evangelical  Church  of  Paterson, 
N.  J. 

March  6,  1897,  the  following  persons  appeared  before 
Session,  and  after  examination,  were  admitted  to  the 
sealing  ordinance  of  baptism  and  the  Lord's  supper,  viz: 
Mrs.  Nancy  Crouce,  wife  of  William,  Sarah  Mowry, 
Eleanor  Griggs  and  Alexander  Stryker;  and  the  follow- 
ing having  received  baptism  in  infancy,  were  admitted  to 
the  Lord's  supper,  viz:  Myrta  Bellis  and  Anna  W. 
Sutphin. 

It  seems  to  the  writer  worthy  of  mention  that  one 
of  the  above  number,  Mr.  Alexander  Stryker,  was  at  the 
time  of  his  reception  into  the  Church  seventy-five  years 
of  age.  During  my  entire  pastorate,  of  over  forty  years, 
this  is  the  only  person  received  into  the  Church  of  so 
great  age,  and  only  one  other  as  old  as  seventy.  And  it 
may  be  added  that  both  these  aged  disciples  were  blessed 
with  godly,  faithful  and  praying  wives. 

During  the  year  now  closing  a  new  organization  in 
the  church  was  constituted,  which  has  already  occom- 
plished  much  and  has  the  promise  of  greater  things. 

Mrs.  Kugler  having  enlisted  the  assistance  of  Mrs. 
M.  J.  Bellis  and  Miss  Fulper,  a  teacher  in  the  public 
school,  gave  notice  fof  the  children  to  meet  in  the  after- 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1 820-1 900      309 

noon  of  November  21st,  1896,  at  the  home  of  Mrs.  Wil- 
liam Cronce,  in  order  to  organize  a  Children's  Mission 
Band.  On  the  day  appointed,  owing  to  the  inclement 
weather,  Mrs.  Kugler  found  herself  alone  with  a  small 
number  of  children.  However,  she  proceeded  to  effect 
the  organization,  acting  herself  as  President,  and  ap- 
pointed Mrs.  Bellis  as  Treasurer,  and  Miss  Fulper  as 
Secretary.  The  ten  children  present  were  so  delighted 
with  the  exercises  of  this  first  meeting  that  the  numbers 
increased  rapidly  and  by  close  of  the  Church  year  at  the 
end  of  March  following,  the  Band  numbered  twenty- 
eight  members.  And  the  contributions  up  to  this  date 
amounted  to  three  dollars.  It  was  enjoined  upon  the 
Children  from  the  start  to  earn  the  money  they  contri- 
buted, and  at  each  meeting  a  time  was  set  apart  for  these 
little  ones  to  tell  how  they  had  earned  their  money.  This 
awakened  so  much  interest  among  the  children,  that  at 
length  it  reached  the  parents  and  extended  beyond  the 
Church.  Some  one  related  this  to  Miss  Petrie,  Editor 
of  the  Children's  Department,  in  the  Home  Mission 
Monthly  of  the  Woman's  Board,  who  wrote,  asking  for 
an  account  of  the  method  and  its  working,  and  published 
the  same  at  length  in  that  magazine.  It  was  decided, 
by  the  Band  at  the  beginning,  to  send  their  money  for 
the  School  at  Juneau,  Alaska,  to  aid  in  securing  educa- 
tion, and  especially  religious  instruction,  for  these  be- 
nighted American  children.  The  Band  was  invited,  each 
year,  during  the  summer,  to  hold  a  meeting  at  the  par- 
sonage. Here,  after  the  exercises,  refreshments  were 
served  under  the  green  trees  on  the  spacious  lawn.  Their 
enjoyment  from  this,  and  the  exuberance  of  childish  glee 


310  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

showed  plainly  that  a  Mission  Band  was  a  thing  of  life 
and  joy. 

After  the  first  year  Miss  Fulper  took  a  school  elsewhere; 
Miss  Anna  Everitt  was  selected  to  fill  her  place.  She 
continued  the  faithful  and  efficient  Secretary  until  the 
close  of  my  pastorate. 

In  1898  Mrs.  Kugler  organized  a  Baby  Band,  which 
by  the  end  of  the  year  had  twelve  members,  and  made  a 
contribution  toward  reducing  the  debt  on  the  Board  of 
Home  Missions.  At  the  close  of  the  same  year,  March 
31st,  1898,  the  Band  honored  the  pastor,  by  taking 
his  name,  being  after  this  known  as  the  Kugler  Mission 
Band.  The  contribution  of  the  Band  to  the  work  at 
Juneau  at  this  time  was  eight  dollars.  In  1899  and  1900, 
the  contribution  was  for  each  year  $10,  making  in  all  up  to 
this  time,  the  time  of  my  last  report,  $31  to  the  Mission 
Work  in  Alaska.  The  Band  continued  its  meetings  and 
exercises  with  unflagging  interest  to  the  close  of  my  pas- 
torate. Mrs.  Kugler  has  looked  upon  the  Band  as  her 
crowning  joy,  and  small  as  the  sum  is  in  the  aggregate, 
let  me  remind  you  that  $10  a  year  is  a  larger  sum  than 
the  entire  Church  gave  to  Home  Missions  in  the  early 
sixties.  Evidently  organized,  faithful  and  persistent  ef- 
forts are  needed;  and  such  efforts  will  secure  the  funds 
for  the  spread  of  the  gospel. 

The  death  of  Deacon  Lewis  Sutphin  occurred  during 
the  year.  Upon  his  death  the  Session  took  the  following 
action : 

Lewis  Sutphin  united  with  this  Church  April  4th, 
1863,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  H.  Janeway.  He 
was  ordained  to  the  office  of  Deacon,  March  2nd,  1870, 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      311 

Rev.  N.  L.  Upham  being  the  pastor.  He  died  after  a 
painful  and  protracted  illness,  July  2nd,  1898.  He  was 
sustained  during  that  sickness  through  an  unwavering 
faith  in  his  Redeemer,  and  a  blessed  hope  of  immortality. 
And  further;  be  it 

Resolved,  That  we  bear  testimony  to  his  faithfulness 
as  a  member  and  office-bearer  in  this  Church,  which  in 
his  death  has  sustained  a  serious  loss.  And  further,  by 
his  departure  we  are  called  to  increased  devotion  to  his 
Saviour  and  ours.  Ordered  that  a  copy  of  these  resolu- 
tions be  handed  to  his  afflicted  family,  with  assurances  of 
our  sympathy,  and  that  this  minute  be  placed  on  our 
records. 

Instead  of  growth,  there  was  decrease  during  the  year 
in  the  total  membership  of  the  Church,  and  also  in  the 
sum  given  to  support  the  Church,  as  well  as  the  offerings 
for  the  use  of  the  Boards  of  the  Church. 

The  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick  was  invited,  at 
its  Spring  meeting  this  year,  1898,  by  the  Church,  to 
join  in  celebrating  its  One  Hundred  and  Sixtieth  An- 
niversary. The  Rev.  Samuel  M.  Studdiford,  D.  D.,  of 
the  Third  Church,  Trenton,  a  college  and  seminary 
friend  of  the  pastor,  was  appointed  to  represent  the  Pres- 
bytery at  this  celebration.  The  pastor  must  confess  that 
at  the  time  very  little  preparation  had  been  made  for  this 
service,  which  was  set  for  June  ist.  In  fact,  it  was 
contemplated  as  more  of  a  commemoration  service,  with 
a  brief  statement  of  the  pastorates  and  their  accompany- 
ing dates,  than  an  occasion  of  commensurate  historical 
importance.  But  when  once  he  began  to  search  for  these 
facts,  so  many  unrecorded  and  forgotten  things  in  the 


312  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

Church's  history  were  discovered,  that  he  was  led  to  go 
on  with  his  investigation  and  to  the  best  of  his  ability 
produce  a  history  of  the  Church.  The  result  has  been 
told  in  the  preceding  pages.  Even  the  date  itself  must 
be  changed.  The  minutes  of  the  Presbytery  had  re- 
corded, time  without  number,  the  organization  of  the 
Church  as  taking  place  in  1738.  But  as  has  already  been 
stated,  the  Church,  as  organized,  was  found  on  the  rec- 
ords of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  in  1737.  How 
much  earlier,  we  do  not  know,  because  for  several  years 
the  records  of  that  Presbytery  are  no  longer  in  exist- 
ence. 

But  when  June  ist,  1898,  came,  we  had  a  charming 
day,  and  the  attendance  of  a  large  congregation  and 
many  invited  guests.  Among  these  were  several  former 
pastors  and  former  members  of  the  Church. 

According  to  the  programme,  the  pastor  opened  the 
exercises  with  an  historical  sermon.  Then  our  Invited 
guests  and  a  large  number  of  the  church  people  partook 
of  a  very  excellent  luncheon,  prepared  by  our  ladles  for 
the  occasion. 

After  this  we  had  a  delightful  hour  of  after-dinner 
speeches.  We  listened  to  these  with  great  pleasure. 
Among  them  were  Dr.  Studdiford,  from  the  Presbytery, 
former  pastors.  Rev.  N.  L.  Upham,  Rev.  John  H.  Sco- 
field  and  Rev.  J.  W.  P.  Blattenberger,  D.  D. ;  also 
Oliver  P.  Rex,  M.  D.,  one  of  our  boys,  and  a  former 
member  of  the  Church. 

In  the  afternoon  visiting  clergymen  took  possession  of 
the  exercises,  and  insisted  on  another  discourse  from  the 
pastor. 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1 820-1900      313 

In  the  evening  the  programme  was  delightfully  car- 
ried out.  John  L.  Connet,  Esq.,  of  Flemington,  gave 
us  a  most  stimulating  address  on  the  Mission  of  the  C. 
E.  Society. 

Dr.  Blattenberger  delighted  and  helped  the  Woman's 
Home  and  Foreign  Missionary  Societies  by  an  address 
full  of  fact  and  force  on  the  great  work  in  which  they 
are  engaged. 

The  history  of  the  Church  was  thus  very  auspiciously 
placed  before  the  public,  but  its  work  was  really  only 
well  begun.  Not  until  the  close  of  his  pastorate  in  1900 
could  the  pastor  feel  he  had  been  over  the  field.  Since 
that  day,  while  engaged  as  he  has  been  able  in  revising 
what  he  had  already  written,  he  has  made  many  additional 
discoveries,  which  have  enlarged,  and  he  hopes,  greatly  im- 
proved the  whole.  To  go  back  to  the  work  itself — the 
Session  decided  June  19th,  1898,  to  return  to  the  cus- 
tom of  former  pastorates,  and  suspend  the  evening  ser- 
vice until  in  September.  September  3rd,  Emma  J.  John- 
son, wife  of  William  B.  Prall,  Jr.,  was  received  from 
the  M.  E.  Church  of  Linvale,  N.  J.  December  3rd, 
Elizabeth  S.  Hall  was  received  on  examination  to 
Church  membership. 

In  making  out  the  report,  April,  1899,  while  there 
had  been  losses  in  other  respects,  the  pastor  was  de- 
lighted in  being  able  to  report  the  largest  gift  to  Home 
Missions,  and  the  largest  total  sum  for  the  work  of  the 
Boards  in  the  history  of  the  Church,  viz:  $70  in  the 
former  and  $260  for  all  causes. 

June  3rd,  1899,  Laura  Ent,  wife  of  Howard  Sut- 
phin,  was  received  to  the  membership  of  the  Church  by 


314  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

letter  from  the  Baptist  Church  of  Flemington,  N.  J. 
June  1 6th,  letters  were  given  to  John  J.  Hall,  Theo- 
dosia,  his  wife,  and  Elizabeth,  their  daughter,  dismiss- 
ing them  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Flemington. 
During  the  early  fall,  a  number  of  clergymen  and  Chris- 
tian workers  met  at  the  Baptist  Church  of  Flemington, 
of  which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sagebeer  was  pastor,  and  or- 
ganized what  was  called  an  Evangelistic  Campaign  in 
Hunterdon  County. 

The  plan  contemplated  holding  interdenominational 
cottage  prayer  meetings  in  every  available  center  through- 
out the  county,  every  Monday  evening.  It  asked  for 
the  appointment  of  two  managers  for  each  locality, 
whose  duty  should  be  tO'  secure  a  house  for  the  meetings, 
and  appoint  a  leader.  The  pastor  brought  this  move- 
ment to  the  attention  of  the  Session  October  15th,  and 
it  received  their  sanction.  With  the  approval  of  the  Ses- 
sion it  was  set  on  foot  in  this  Church.  The  people 
throughout  the  congregation  responded  heartily  and  sus- 
tained their  respective  meetings  for  many  weeks.  Men 
took  hold  and  worked  with  great  faithfulness  who  had 
hardly  done  any  work  of  the  kind  before.  This  was  a 
uniform  experience  among  our  people,  and  a  similar  testi- 
mony was  given  elsewhere  to  the  interest  with  which 
these  meetings  were  sustained.  There  was  thus  awak- 
ened a  truer  sense  of  personal  responsibility,  and  a  re- 
vival of  interest  delightful  to  behold.  It  cannot  be  said 
that  the  immediate  result  was  any  large  increase  in  mem- 
bership, but  an  awakened  Church  with  increased  activ- 
ity are  blessings  to  be  thankful  for.  A  similar  move- 
ment was  organized  by  the  Presbytery.     However,  when 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      315 

the  year  closed,  it  was  with  a  small  decrease  in  our  work 
of  beneficence,  and  no  increase  in  our  membership.  Yet 
we  are  persuaded  that  all  honest  efforts  that  secure  the 
co-operation  of  the  whole  Church,  work  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  Kingdom. 

December  2nd,  1899,  the  Session  received  by  letter 
from  the  Baptist  Church  Mrs.  John  Ent. 

The  Session  having  felt  the  importance  of  adding  to 
its  number,  gave  official  attention  to  this  matter  March 
3rd,  1900,  and  on  the  31st  of  March,  appointed  Sabbath, 
April  the  8th,  as  the  day  when  nominations  would  be 
made,  and  if  the  way  was  clear,  hold  the  election  on 
that  day. 

The  Session  also  agreed,  March  31st,  on  three  per- 
sons with  whom  they  would  hold  conversation,  and  en- 
deavor to  secure  their  consent  to  allow  their  names  to 
be  placed  in  nomination.  On  the  8th  of  April  the  pas- 
tor laid  the  action  thus  far  taken  before  the  congrega- 
tion, and  at  the  same  time  gave  a  brief  statement  of 
the  essential  qualifications  for  the  office  of  Ruling  Elder. 
After  prayer  Elder  C.  F.  Quick  placed  in  nomination 
the  following  names,  already  agreed  upon  by  the  Ses- 
sion, viz:  Alvin  Hill,  Isaac  S.  Lowe  and  Johnson  B. 
Pierce.  Elder  A.  J.  Prall  seconded  the  nominations. 
Mr.  Pierce  declined  the  nomination,  but  yielded  to  the 
request  to  allow  his  name  to  stand  for  the  present. 

Opportunity  was  given  to  the  members  of  the  Church 
to  make  additional  nominations.  No  other  nomination 
was  made. 

The  Moderator  then  presented  each  nominee  separ- 
ately, and  called  for  a  vote,  by  the  holding  up  of  the 


3i6  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

right  hand  by  the  members  of  the  Church.  Each  nomi- 
nee was  unanimously  elected. 

The  Moderator  then  announced  that  if  the  way  be 
clear  the  ordination  and  installation  of  the  Elders-elect 
would  take  place  next  Sabbath  morning. 

After  sermon,  April  15th,  the  pastor  reminded  the 
Church  of  its  action  on  last  Sabbath  and  stated  that 
we  would  now  proceed  to  the  ordination  and  installa- 
tion of  the  Elders-elect,  if  there  be  no  objection. 

Whereupon,  Johnson  B.  Pierce  renewed  his  request 
to  be  allowed  to  withdraw  his  name,  which  request  was 
granted  with  regret  by  the  members  of  the  Church. 

Alvin  Hill  and  Isaac  S.  Lowe  then  presenting  them- 
selves before  the  Congregation,  and  answering  affirma- 
tively the  constitutional  questions,  and  the  Church  also 
answering  affirmatively,  by  holding  up  the  right  hand, 
Alvin  Hill  and  Isaac  S.  Lowe  were  set  apart  by  prayer 
and  the  laying  on  of  hands  by  the  pastor  to  the  office  of 
Ruling  Elder.  During  the  ordination  prayer  the  Eld- 
ers, with  the  pastor,  stood  around  the  candidates,  and 
at  its  close,  each  one  extended  to  the  newly  ordained 
Elders  the  right  hand,  saying:  "We  give  you  the  right 
hand  of  fellowship,  to  take  part  with  us  in  this  office." 

In  the  very  month  in  which  the  first  steps  were  taken 
for  enlarging  the  Session,  the  Church  lost  by  death  its 
Senior  Deacon,  Mr.  John  Quick. 

Deacon  Quick's  death  was  a  great  shock  to  the  Church, 
it  having  occurred  without  previous  sickness,  and  dur- 
ing sleep  on  the  14th  of  March,  1900.  His  dying  moans 
were  heard  only  by  his  wife,  who  was  alone  with  him 
in  their  home. 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      317 

The  action  of  the  Session,  on  his  death,  was  delayed 
until  July  by  the  pastor's  sickness.  The  essential  state- 
ments of  that  action  were  as  follows:  John  Quick  was 
the  son  of  Gideon  Quick  and  Sarah  Fisher,  his  wife, 
his  mother  being  one  the  two  first  teachers  in  our  Sab- 
bath School.  His  grandfather  was^John  P.  Quick,  an 
Elder  in  this  Church. 

Mr.  Quick  was  born  July  17th,  1820,  therefore  being 
nearly  eighty  years  of  age  when  he  died.  He  and 
Frances  Holcombe  were  united  in  marriage  at  Mount 
Airy,  November  30th,  1842.  He  and  Mrs.  Quick  united 
with  this  Church  April  nth,  1846,  under  the  pastor- 
ate of  Rev.  Benjamin  Carrell.  He  was  ordained  to  the 
office  of  Deacon  March  20th,  1870,  Rev.  N.  L.  Upham 
being  pastor.  This  venerable  couple  celebrated  their 
golden  wedding  November  30th,  1892. 

Mr.  Quick  was  a  warm  and  generous  friend  of  his 
pastor,  and  a  liberal  supporter  of  the  church,  not  only 
in  its  annual  expenses,  but  always  ready  to  join,  and  of- 
ten to  lead  in  movements  for  improving  the  Church 
property.  The  Session  bore  hearty  testimony  to  his 
liberality  as  shown  throughout  his  life;  also  to  his  de- 
voted interest  in  all  her  service;  as  also  to  his  faithful 
discharge  of  the  duties  of  Trustee  from  1851,  and  for 
many  terms  afterward;  to  his  fidelity  as  Treasurer  of 
the  board  from  1877  to  1888,  during  which  period  he 
was  often  called  to  bear  heavy  burdens  for  the  Church, 
and  finally  for  his  gift  of  $500  to  the  Church,  to  become 
available  at  the  death  of  Mrs.  Quick. 
In  behalf  of  Session, 

John  B.  Kugler,  Modr. 


3i8  AM  WELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

On  the  Sabbath  following  the  ordination  of  these  Eld- 
ers the  pastor's  sickness  began,  which  resulted  in  his 
breakdown  and  withdrawing  from  the  pastorate  of  the 
Church.  For  this  reason  I  may  be  pardoned  for  its  men- 
tion here.  I  preached  at  the  morning  service  April  22nd, 
1900,  with  unusual  earnestness  and  conscious  ease.  Not 
until  evening  did  I  realize  my  approaching  sickness.  Be- 
fore the  hour  of  service  I  was  constrained  to  send  word 
to  the  Church  that  I  would  be  unable  to  serve  them,  but 
then  thinking  it  only  a  cold  that  disabled  me,  and  in  a 
few  days  I  could  return  to  the  work.  It  was  otherwise 
ordered.  The  cold  developed  in  grippe,  and  grippe  was 
accompanied  with  pneumonia.  Then  came  a  long  strug- 
gle for  life.  While  others  were  more  than  anxious  I 
never  lost  hope  of  final  recovery. 

Yet  when  two  neighbors  sat  through  an  entire  night 
on  the  piazza  unknown  to  my  family,  expecting  every 
hour  would  announce  my  death,  to  be  on  hand  to  render 
help  to  Mrs.  Kugler,  I  must  admit  my  case  to  have  as- 
sumed a  critical  stage.  I  am  grateful  to  Almighty  God 
that  He  was  pleased  to  extend  His  hand  of  mercy.  I 
fully  believe  He  often,  if  not  always,  disposes  the  hearts 
and  hands  of  His  people  to  do  His  service.  The  Church 
truly  did  what  it  could  for  my  recovery.  The  skilled 
Dr.  Leidy,  of  Flemington,  and  Dr.  Oliver  P.  Rex,  of 
Philadelphia,  who  was  spending  a  few  days  at  his 
mother's  home  for  needed  rest,  also  most  kindly  and 
efficiently  exercised  in  my  behalf  his  healing  art.  A 
trained  nurse  did  what  she  could.  Johnson  B.  Pierce, 
David  Huffman  and  Morris  W.  Robinson  watched  be- 
side my  bed  many  a  night.     Mrs.  William  Pierce  came 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      319 

after  the  nurse  left  and  served  me  faithfully  and  wisely. 
Above  all,  and  I  think  best  of  all,  vv^as  the  exhaustless  care 
and  always  timely  and  loving  helpfulness  of  my  devoted 
wife.  My  son  and  his  wife  did  what  they  could,  while 
home  duties  were  calling  them  away  from  me.  So  to  the 
joy  and  gratitude  of  us  all  the  relief  came. 

This  sickness  began  the  22nd  of  April;  not  until  the 
first  Sabbath  in  July  was  I  able  to  return  to  my  pulpit. 
My  physicians  had  advised  me  of  the  necessity  of  resign- 
ing my  charge  and  quitting  the  work.  This  was  more 
than,  at  the  time,  I  could  accept.  To  gain  the  health 
needed  for  continuing  in  the  service  of  my  Master,  we 
spent  many  weeks  at  the  Clifton  Springs  Sanitarium. 
The  strength  acquired  was  only  temporary.  It  would 
not  endure  the  strain  of  daily  service.  A  few  weeks 
made  this  evident.  Sabbath  morning,  October  7th,  I 
gave  notice  of  my  purpose  to  request  Presbytery  to 
release  me  from  my  charge.  The  usual  steps  were  taken. 
The  Congregation  with  manifest  regret  appointed  Com- 
missioners to  unite  with  me  at  the  Presbytery  meeting 
at  the  intervals  of  Synod  at  Atlantic  City  to  ask  for 
the  dissolution  of  my  pastoral  relation  with  the  First 
Church  of  Amwell.  This  took  place  October  17th,  the 
action  to  go  into  effect  November  nth,  1900.  Soon 
came  the  sad  day  on  which  was  broken  the  official  bond. 
We  held  a  communion  service  in  the  morning,  when  we 
broke  bread  together  and  partook  of  the  cup.  The  older 
people  had  in  the  former  part  of  this  service  received  an 
especial  message.  Then  we  sang  "Blest  be  the  tie  that 
binds." 

In  the  evening  the  message  and  the  whole  service  were 


320  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

for  the  young  people.  The  Church  was  completely 
filled.  During  this  service  the  unwavering  attention, 
the  intense  interest,  the  enthusiasm,  the  manifest  kind- 
ness were  all  so  abounding  that  it  was  not  in  nature  to 
allow  the  emotion  of  sadness  to  prevent  emotions  of  joy 
and  gratitude  for  the  kindness  showed  at  this  parting 
service. 

Following  these  closing  services,  there  remain  a  few 
facts  to  be  gathered  and  stated. 

When  I  took  charge  of  this  Church,  one  aim  I  set 
before  myself  was  to  do  my  very  best  to  reach  the  com- 
paratively small  number  not  in  Church  fellowship.  The 
record  of  this  endeavor  has  already  been  given.  I  am 
free  to  say  the  result  was  not  up  to  my  desire.  Stated  In 
figures,  we  received  into  the  Church  on  examination  50, 
and  by  letter  40.  And  yet  the  number  who  died  during 
my  pastorate,  the  number  dismissed  to  other  churches, 
and  the  number  put  on  the  list  of  absent  members  re- 
duced the  membership  of  157  to  114  when  I  left.  This 
is  to  me  sad,  although  it  follows  a  long  existing  example. 
It  may  be  added  that  new  churches  on  territory  formerly 
under  this  Church  are  ever  reducing  our  membership.  Yet 
I  believe  there  Is  a  better  day  coming  for  this  venerable 
Church. 

Another  aim  set  before  myself  was  to  lead  the  people 
to  closer  fellowship  with  the  Master,  and  to  a  more  lib- 
eral consecration  of  their  means  to  the  spread  of  the 
gospel.  The  gain  was  gratifying  and  gave  reason  for 
gratitude  to  the  blessed  Master.  In  this  department  of 
Christian  activity  and  liberality,  Mrs.  Kugler  co-oper- 
ated with  me  to  the  fullest  extent.     It  is  impossible  to 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      321 

express  Christian  activity  by  tabulated  statements.  These 
however  may  be  indexes  of  efforts  for  the  Master,  and 
sometimes  are  useful. 

In  this  w^ork  collections  were  annually  taken  for  all 
the  eight  Boards  of  the  Church,  and  for  the  Bible  So- 
ciety also.  Only  the  Boards  of  Home  and  Foreign  Mis- 
sions are  here  tabulated,  together  with  what  the  Church 
did  in  its  own  behalf.  While  the  importance  of  all  these 
Boards  is  recognized,  it  has  been  the  custom  of  the 
Church  to  do  more  liberally  for  the  two  boards  men- 
tioned than  for  the  others.  It  is  deemed  sufficient  for 
the  other  boards  to  state  the  sum  contributed  to  the  in- 
terests they  represent  in  the  column  of  total  beneficence. 
The  cause  standing  next  in  interest  to  the  two  mission 
boards  so-called  (they  are  all  equally  mission  causes),  is 
what  we  designate  Synodical  Home  Missions.  In  the 
advocacy  of  this,  we  experienced  the  greatest  difficulty 
in  making  headway  with  the  people.  But  understanding 
its  importance,  as  the  people  did  not,  or  would  not,  and 
as  in  this  case,  there  was  a  specified  sum  indicated  by  the 
Synod  for  each  Church  to  work  up  to.  Mrs.  Kugler 
and  myself  resolving  to  reach  it  if  possible,  offered  to  the 
Church  people,  if  they  would  give  one-half,  we  would 
contribute  the  other  half.  In  this  way  we  succeeded 
from  year  to  year  in  reaching  the  sum  asked. 

The    tabulated    statement    of    the    beneficence    of    the 

Church,  and  what  it  contributed  to  its  own  needs  is  here 

given.     The  variation   in  congregational   expenses   arises 

from  the  fact  that  in    1891   a  new  furnace  was  put  in 

the  parsonage.     The  congregation  consented  to  do  this, 
21 


322  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

when  Mrs.  Kugler  and  myself  offered  to  contribute  $50 
on  the  expense.  The  whole  cost  was  $149,  and  we 
gave  more  than  we  promised.  In  1891  and  1892  the 
Church  was  painted  at  a  cost  of  $155.  A  new  roof 
was  put  on  in  1894,  ^^  2.  cost  of  $281. 

The  columns  for  Home  and  Foreign  Missions  first 
state  what  the  whole  Church  contributed.  The  next 
two  columns  show  what  part  of  this  was  given  by  the 
Women's  Societies.  Then  we  have  the  total  beneficence 
of   the   Church,    including   these    and    all   other    objects. 

Year.  H.  M.  F.  M.        W.  H.  M. 

1891  $39  $112  $45 


1892 

42 

93 

56(a) 

1893 

54 

III 

51 

1894 

50 

112 

38 

1895 

54 

119 

54 

1896 

48 

98 

49 

1897 

50 

III 

47 

1898 

47 

98 

39 

1899 

70 

107 

52 

1900 

56 

lOI 

50 

$502 

$1062 

$481 

Note  (a) — Here  the  Women's  Home  Mission  gives 
more  than  is  set  to  the  whole  Church.  The  explanation 
is  this  Society  handed  over  a  part  of  their  funds  to  the 
cause  of  Freedmen  Sunday  School  or  any  other  cause  that 
came  out  very  low. 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      323 


Total 

Congregational 

Yt2iX. 

W.  F.  M. 

Beneficence. 

Expenses. 

I89I 

$75 

$244 

$1401 

1892 

64 

206 

1594 

1893 

73 

253 

1315 

1894 

75 

256 

1355 

1895 

91 

247 

1222 

1896 

68 

220 

1242 

1897 

77 

245 

1495 

1898 

62 

330 

1022 

1899 

71 

260 

938 

1900 

67 

235 

1030 

$723    $2496     $12605 

My  third  object  on  which  to  lay  stress,  was  the  cause 
of  temperance.  I  determined  to  present  this  cause  to  the 
consciences  of  the  Church  people,  in  the  sanest,  most 
forcible  manner  in  my  power.  It  is  a  real  pleasure  to 
me  to  see  that  now,  twelve  years  after  this  toil  and  ad- 
vocacy, the  influence  of  this  effort  abides  as  a  living  fac- 
tor in  creating  a  healthy  sentiment,  which  at  times  has 
been  translated  into  telling  action. 

Another  labor  of  love  of  mine,  a  real  pet  it  was  and 
one  never  spoiled  as  pets  often  are,  was  a  Bible  Class 
in  connection  with  the  Sabbath  School.  There  was  of- 
ten evidence  of  interest  and  study  that  showed  plainly 
that  the  class  fully  shared  with  me  my  enthusiasm  and 
pleasure  in  this  effort  to  know  more  of  the  blessed  book. 

The  sexton  of  a  Church,  to  do  his  best,  will  get  as 
much  blame  as  praise,  for  the  reason  that  too  hot  for 


324  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

one  is  too  cold  for  another.  Be  it  so,  I  can  not  bring 
this  record  to  a  close,  without  saying  that  during  my 
ministry  there  has  never  been  any  more  faithfully  served 
than  has  this  old  Church  during  my  pastorate  by  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Cronce.  In  keeping  it  thoroughly  clean,  he  had 
the  efficient  help  of  Mrs.  Cronce.  Wisely  heated,  v^ell 
and  wisely  ventilated  is  the  verdict  I  gladly  place  to  his 
credit.  In  addition  to  this  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cronce  made 
Mrs.  Kugler  and  myself  their  debtors  by  the  many  help- 
ful things  they  did  for  us  at  the  parsonage.  With  this 
I  close  the  record,  excepting  the  usual  personal  statement, 
as  I  have  given  of  other  pastors,  and  a  word  about  two 
funerals  I  was  called  back  to  attend  after  leaving  the 
Church.  The  very  last  was  that  of  Mrs.  Christianna 
Wert,  widow  of  the  late  Jacob  Quick.  This  service  was 
in  1910.  Mrs.  Quick,  with  her  husband,  united  with 
the  Church  in  1846.  This  makes  her  Church  member- 
ship sixty-four  years.  As  she  was  a  member  of  the  Wo- 
man's Missionary  Society,  I  asked  Mrs.  Kugler  about  her, 
as  I  was  getting  ready  for  these  sad  services.  Her  an- 
swer was:  "She  was  a  woman  who  made  the  world 
better  for  having  lived  in  it."  This  is  her  tribute.  May 
the  Master  help  us  all  to  do  likewise.  The  other  fu- 
neral was  that  of  Elder  Quick,  the  account  of  which  is 
given   in  an  appendix. 

Having  given  a  personal  sketch  of  former  pastors,  it 
seems  fitting  that  I  should  do  the  same  for  myself.  My 
great-grandfather,  John  Kugler,  came  to  America  from 
Germany  in  1753,  being  a  lad  of  about  13  years  of  age. 
He  died  at  the  age  of  73  years.  My  grandfather,  also 
John,   lived,   when   I   knew   him,   in   my  boyhood,   near 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      325 

Barbertown.  He  died  at  the  age  of  71  years.  My 
father  was  Joseph  Kugler,  born  In  1804,  and  died  in 
1864.  My  mother  was  Sarah  M.  Backer,  of  the  Reformed 
Church  of  Lebanon.  I  was  born  at  Lebanon,  N.  J., 
March  5th,  1832,  and  from  the  age  of  5  years,  lived  on  a 
farm  at  Frenchtown  until  I  entered  the  ministry.  I  united 
with  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  that  place  October, 
1850,  being  the  first  person  received  into  that  Church 
on  examination.  My  parents  were  charter  members  of 
the  same  and  my  father  was  its  first  elder.  During 
my  preparation  for  College  I  taught  school,  public,  or 
classical,  at  different  times,  entering  Princeton  College 
Sophomore  Class  in  1854,  ^^^  graduating  in  1857. 
Leaving  College  I  entered  the  Seminary  at  Princeton 
the  same  year  and  graduated  in  i860. 

The  first  church  of  which  I  was  pastor  was  that  of 
Strasburg,  Lancaster  County,  Pa.  I  took  charge  of  this 
Church  the  first  Sabbath,  May  5th,  after  leaving  the 
Seminary.  I  was  ordained  and  installed  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Donegal  (now  Westminster)  June  12th,  i860, 
and  remained  until  the  fall  of  1865.  Then  became  pas- 
tor of  the  Musconetcong  Valley  Presbyterian  Church,  at 
that  time  in  the  Presbytery  of  Raritan,  N.  J.,  transferred 
to  Newton  Presbytery  in  1870.  I  remained  until  1883. 
Then  settled  in  Hoboken,  which  I  left  March  30th, 
1890.  Was  called  to  Amwell  First,  settled  April  ist, 
was  installed  May  27th.  Pastoral  relation  dissolved 
October  17th,  to  take  effect  November  nth,    1900. 

I  was  chosen  three  times  as  Commissioner  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  viz. :  To  represent  the  Presbytery  of 
Donegal  to  the  Assembly  at  Pittsburg,  1865;  to  represent 


326  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

the  Presbytery  of  Newton  at  the  Assembly  at  Saratoga, 
N.  Y.,  1879,  and  the  Presbytery  of  Jersey  City  at  Omaha 
in  1887. 

I  was  united  in  marriage  July  3rd,  i860,  with  Sarah 
Sherrerd,  daughter  of  William  and  Jane  M.  Green,  of 
Easton,  Pa.  Mrs.  Kugler  bore  me  a  daughter  and 
son.  Her  ancestry  is  the  same  as  that  of  her  aunt, 
Mrs.  Clark  (p.  188).  Through  her  father  it  leads 
from  John  Green,  back  to  his  people  in  Trenton.  I 
fondly  remember  her  as  always  a  faithful  and  affection- 
ate wife.  My  second  wife  was  Ann  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  the  late  Senator  Peter  Cramer  and  Sarah  Skin- 
ner, his  wife,  of  Warren  County.  Our  marriage  took 
place  June  i8th,  1873,  in  the  Valley  Church,  of  which 
she  was  a  member,  and  I  was  pastor. 

It  is  to  my  great  happiness  that  she  is  spared  to  me, 
and  my  sincerest  desire  that  she  may  ever  be.  With  this 
personal  sketch  the  story  of  this  Old  Mother  Church 
has  been  told.  We  are  thankful  for  the  part  we  have 
had  in  ministering  together  for  her  life  and  vigor,  and 
more  so  for  what  we  have  been  able  to  accomplish  in  her 
and  through  her,  for  the  honor  of  our  blessed  Lord,  and 
the  extension  of  his  Kingdom.  May  the  divine  bless- 
ing be  upon  her,  for  her  deeper  Spiritual  life,  and  speedi- 
ly for  her  enlargement. 

APPENDIX    I ELDER    CALEB    FARLEE    QUICK. 

The  service  rendered  the  Church  by  Elder  Quick 
seems  to  make  it  appropriate  to  connect  his  name  with 
this  history,  although  his  death  occurred  after  I  had 
ceased   to   be  the  pastor  of   the  Church.      As  in  many 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1 820-1 900      327 

other  cases,  I  was  called  back  to  have  a  principal  part  in 
the  funeral  services. 

Elder  C.  F.  Quick,  and  his  brothers  Jacob  and  John, 
were  born  within  scarcely  more  than  a  mile  from  the 
Church;  and  excepting  a  short  time  spent  by  John  in 
business  in  New  York,  they  all  settled  and  lived  within 
sight  of  the  Church,  all  being  farmers.  They  were  the 
sons  of  Gideon  Quick  and  Sarah  Fisher,  his  wife,  and 
grandsons  of  Elder  John  P.  Quick.  John  and  Jacob 
each  celebrated  their  golden  wedding  anniversary  dur- 
ing my  pastorate.  And  while  Mrs.  Caleb  Quick  died 
five  years  before  the  occurance  of  that  event  with  herself 
and  husband,  Mr.  Quick  lived  eight  years  beyond  it, 
as  he  and  Catharine  B.  Holcombe  were  united  in  mar- 
riage, November  24th,   1847.     He  was  born  July  25th, 

1825. 

He  was  chosen  trustee  of  the  Church  in  1859,  and 
again  in  1864,  and  from  that  date  re-elected  and 
served  until  1875.  He  also  served  the  Church  for  the 
same  period  as  President  of  its  Board  of  Trustees,  and 
also  Treasurer.  Very  frequently  during  his  long  life, 
he  was  either  President  or  Secretary  for  the  meetings  of 
the  Congregation.  He  united  with  the  Church  on  ex- 
amination March  the  nth,  1879,  under  the  pastorate 
of  Dr.  Blattenberger. 

In  1884  he  was  chosen  and  ordained  to  the  Elder- 
ship under  the  same  pastor.  The  year  following  he  was 
appointed  Clerk  of  the  Session,  and  so  continued 
throughout  his  life. 

In  1888,  he  was  one  of  the  lay  commissioners  elected 
to  represent  the   Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick  at  the 


328  AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 

General  Assembly  at  Omaha.  During  my  pastorate  he 
was  a  member  with  myself  of  the  Committee  of  the 
Church  on  Foreign  Missions.  His  death  occurred  Feb- 
ruary 9th,  1905.  In  addition  to  these  honors  by  the 
Church,  he  frequently  held  positions  of  responsibility 
and  trust  in  civic  affairs.  He  was  called  upon  by  many 
neighbors  to  settle  estates.  Often  he  was  selected  as 
guardian  for  minors.  Other  trust  money  was  also  com- 
mitted to  his  care.  It  was  to  his  honor  and  credit  that 
he  closed  up  this  business,  extending  over  many  years, 
with  the  record  that  he  had  never  lost  a  dollar  of  other 
peoples'  money. 

He  had  an  abiding  interest  in  the  Church,  and  gave 
time  and  money,  and  his  ripened  experience,  and  sound 
judgment   to   her  wellfare. 

The  passing  away  of  such  a  man  is  indeed  a  sore  be- 
reavement to  the  Church  and  his  family.  But  both 
must  soon  realize  that  in  his  memory  they  have  a  rich 
inheritance  and  in  his  life  a  stimulus  to  fuller  devotion 
to  the  blessed  Saviour  in  whom  he  trusted,  and  whom 
he  delighted  to  serve. 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      329 

THE    PASTORS. 

1 75 1   Rev.  Eliab  Byram. 
1755  Rev.  Benjamin   Hait. 
1766  Rev.  William  Kirkpatrick. 
1776  Rev.  John  Warford. 
1 79 1  Rev.  Thomas  Grant. 
1 8 10  Rev.  Jacob  Kirkpatrick. 
1820  Rev.  John    Flavel    Clark. 
1837  Rev.  David  Hull. 
1844  Rev.  Benjamin   Carroll. 
i860  Rev.  George  P.  Van  Wyck. 
1863  Rev.  Joshua  B.  H.  Janeway. 
1865  Rev.  N.  L.  Upham. 
1872  Rev.  John   H.   Scofield. 
1875  Rev.  John  S.  Beekman. 
1878  Rev.  J.  P.  W.  Blattenberger. 
1888  Rev.  Thomas  Chalmers  Potter. 
1890  to  19CX)  Rev.  John  B.  Kugler. 


330 


AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 


ROLL  OF   ELDERS. 


1837- 

Derick  Hoagland, 
Michael  Henry, 
Abraham  La  Rue, 
Jacob  Ruder, 
Peter  Wilson, 
William  Norcross, 


Alexander  White, 
Abraham  Prall, 
Joseph  Reading,* 
John  Prall, 
Jonathan  Burrows, 
David  Bishop,  d.  1815, 
Titus  Quick. 


The  Records  of  Session  begin  with  the  pastorate  of 
Rev.  John  Flavel  Clark,  1820,  Titus  Quick  being  the 
only  Elder  in  the  Church. 


John  Hageman,  1822, 
moved  away  1856, 

Tunis  Quick,  1822, 

Peter  P.  Young,  1 831,  d. 
1867, 

George  F.  Wilson,  1831, 
moved  away  1852, 

John   P.   Quick,    1831,   d. 

1845, 

Elders     received     from 
Clover  Hill: 

Henry  Van  Derveer,  1840, 
John     Nevius,     1840,     d. 

1857, 


Peter  C.  Schenck,  1840, 
John  E.  Holcombe,  1853, 

d.   1859, 
William   Waldron,    1853, 

d.   1866, 
Ralph   Sutphin,    1853, 
John   H.   Johnson,    1865 

moved  away   1874, 
Jacob      S.      Prall,      1865, 

moved  away   1868, 
Zebulon    Stout,    1870,    d. 

1885, 
William    Hill,     1870,    d. 

1891, 


*Joseph  Reading  was  a   member  of  Amwell   Second 
Church. 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      331 


Irenaeus  R.  Glen,  M.  D., 
1870,  moved  away  1871, 

John  Y.  Bellis,  1872,  d. 
1888, 

George  P.  Rex,  M.  D., 
1872,  d.  1889, 

Abraham  J.  Prall,  1872, 


Caleb  F.  Quick,  1884,  d. 

1905, 
Martin  J.  Bellis,  1884, 
James      P.      Chamberlin, 

1884, 
Alvin  Hill,  1899, 
Isaac  S.  Lowe,  1899. 


ROLL  OF  TRUSTEES. 
FROM  1820. 


Titus  Quick, 
Jacob  J.  Young, 
Wm.  W.  Schenck, 
Aaron  Prall, 
John  P.  Quick, 
Abraham  Sutphin, 
Peter  P.  Quick. 
1826. 
John  P.  Quick, 
John  Kee, 
George  F.  Wilson, 
Peter  P.  Quick, 
William  R.   Prall, 
Titus  Quick, 
Jonathan  Hoagland. 


1838. 
Peter  Quick, 
Joseph  Van  Marter, 
Gideon  Quick, 
Jonathan  H.  Conover, 
Lewis  Labaw, 
Jacob  W.  Schenck, 
George  P.  Rex,  M.  D. 

1839. 
Anthony  L.  Case, 
Gideon  Quick, 
George  P.  Rex,  M.  D., 
Jacob  W.  Schenck, 
Lewis  Labaw, 
Jacob  F.  Prall, 
Ralph  Young. 


To  these  Trustees,  the  lot  for  the  new  Church  was 
deeded.  Recorded  at  Flemington,  May  7th,  1839,  Vol. 
71,  fol.  354-5. 

1840.  Anthony  L.  Case, 

After     the     union     with     Gideon  Quick, 

Clover  Hill :  Abraham  V.  Polhemus, 


332 


AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 


Jacob  W.  Schenck, 
C.  P.  Brokaw, 
Henry  Van  Derveer,  Jr., 
Joseph  Van  Marten 

1842. 
Jacob  Voorhees, 
Gideon  Quick, 
John  Y.  Bellis, 
Theodore  Young, 
Cornelius  P.  Brokaw, 
Joseph  C.  Sutphin, 
Joseph  Van  Marter. 

1844. 
Jacob  W.  Nevius, 
Jacob  Voorhees, 
Paul  K.   Dilts, 
William  Waldron, 
John  E.  Holcombe, 
Gideon  Quick, 
Joseph  C.  Sutphin. 

1847. 
Jacob  Y.  Quick, 

Zebulon  Stout, 

Reading  Smith. 

1851. 
John  E.  Holcombe, 
Paul  K.  Dilts, 
Zebulon  Stout, 
John  Quick, 
Robert  R.  Smith, 
N.  Wilson  Young, 


John  L.  Bellis. 

1852. 
John  E.   Holcombe, 
John  Sharp, 
Zebulon  Stout, 
John  Quick, 
Robert  R.  Smith, 
David  Y.  Bellis, 
William  Sheppard. 

1853. 
John   E.  Holcombe, 
John  Sharp, 
John  Quick, 
John  Y.  Bellis, 
Jacob  F.  Prall, 
Ketenus  Young, 
David  Bellis. 

1855. 
John  E.  Holcombe, 
Jacob  K.  Van  Derveer, 
Gideon   Quick, 
John  W.  Phillips, 
P.  Prall  Quick, 
John  Schenck, 
Derrick  Sutphin. 

1856. 
Ralph  Sutphin, 
Gideon  Quick, 
Jacob  K.  Van  Derveer, 
John  W.  Phillips, 
P.  Prall  Quick, 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1 820-1 900      333 


Dr.  Simeon  S.  Dana, 
Derrick  Sutphin. 

1857. 
Jacob  K.  Van  Derveer, 
Gideon  Quick, 
Caleb  F.  Quick, 
James  P.  Chamberlin, 
Zebulon  Stout, 
Derrick  Sutphin, 
John  Y.  Bellis. 

1858. 
Jacob  K.  Van  Derveer, 
Gideon  Quick, 
Zebulon  Stout, 
Derrick  Sutphin, 
John  Y.  Bellis, 
Jacob  W.  Nevius, 
William  B.  Prall. 

1859. 
Board   re-elected. 

i860. 
John  Quick, 
John  L.   Case, 
Zebulon  Stout, 
William  Sutphin, 
John  H.  Phillips, 
Jacob  W.  Nevius, 
William  B.  Prall. 

1863. 
Jacob  S.  Prall, 
John  Quick, 


Zebulon  Stout, 
John  H.  Phillips, 
John  W.  Williamson, 
William  B.  Prall, 
William  Sutphin. 

1864. 
Anthony  L.  Case, 
Caleb  F.  Quick, 
James  P.  Chamberlin, 
Zebulon  Stout, 
John  Phillips, 
John  W.  Williamson, 
William  Sutphin. 

1865. 
Caleb  F.  Quick, 
John  Quick, 
Zebulon  Stout, 
John  H.  Phillips,  ' 
John  H.  Williamson, 
James  P.  Chamberlin, 
William  Sutphin. 

1866,   1867. 
Re-elected  the  same. 

1868. 
Caleb  F.  Quick, 
John  H.  Williamson, 
Asher  Higgins, 
John  Y.  Bellis, 
Abraham  J.  Prall, 
William  Sutphin, 
John  Quick, 


334 


AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 


1869. 

Caleb  F.  Quick, 

Robert  R.  Smith, 

Asher  Higgins, 

John  Y.  Bellis, 

Abraham  J.  Prall, 

Lewis  Sutphin, 

John  Quick. 

1870. 

Board  re-elected,  except- 
ing Jacob  F.  Quick, 
in  place  of  John  Quick. 

1871. 
Caleb  F.  Quick, 
John  Y.  Bellis, 
William  B.  Prall, 
Lewis  Sutphin, 
Lewis  C.  Case, 
Robert  R.  Smith, 
John  T.  Hudnut. 

1872. 
Caleb  F.  Quick, 
Robert  W.  Hunt, 
John  Y.  Bellis, 
William  B.  Prall, 
Lewis  Sutphin, 
Lewis  C.  Case, 
Jacob  Quick. 

1873. 
Clinton   B.   Blackwell,   in 

place  of  John  Y.  Bellis. 


1874. 
Caleb  F.  Quick, 

William  Bellis, 

William  B.   Prall, 

Lewis  Sutphin, 

Lewis  Case, 

Peter  Q.  Holcombe, 

John  H.  Williamson. 

1875. 
Martin  J.  Bellis, 

William  W.  Bellis, 
William  B.   Prall, 
Lewis  Sutphin, 
Jonathan  B.  Higgins, 
Peter  Q.  Holcombe, 
John  H.  Williamson. 

1876. 
Martin  J.  Bellis, 
William  W.  Bellis, 
William  B.  Prall, 
Lewis  Sutphin, 
Lewis  C.  Case, 
Peter  Q.  Holcombe, 
Holloway  Streeter. 

1877. 
John  Quick, 

William  B.  Prall, 

Lewis  Sutphin, 

Thomas  Miller, 

Peter  Q.  Holcombe, 

Robert  R.  Smith,    • 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1 820-1 900      335 


Holloway  Stre6ter. 

1878. 
John  Quick, 
James  P.  Chamberlin, 
Lewis  Sutphin, 
Thomas  Miller, 
Peter  Q.   Holcombe, 
Robert  R.  Smith, 
Martin  J.  Bellis. 

1879— 1882. 
Board  re-elected. 

1883. 
John  Quick, 
James  P.  Chamberlin, 
John  B.  Lowe, 
Thomas  Miller, 
David  S.  Weart, 
Robert  R.  Smith, 
Martin  J.  Bellis. 

1884. 
John  Quick, 
Thomas  Miller, 
Martin  J.  Bellis, 
David  S.  Weart, 
James  P.  Chamberlin, 
John  B.  Lowe, 
Arthur  Shipman. 

1885. 
Theodore  F.  Swarer, 
Thomas  Miller, 
David  S.  Weart, 


James  P.  Chamberlin, 
John  B.  Lowe, 
William  Pierce, 
Arthur  Sutphin, 

1886— 1888. 
Board  re-elected. 

1890. 
Isaac  S.  Lowe, 
Thomas  Miller, 
David  S.  Weart, 
James  P.  Chamberlin, 
John  B.  Lowe, 
William  Pierce, 
Theodore  F.  Swarer. 

1891 — 1892. 

Isaac  S.  Lowe, 
James  P.  Chamberlin, 
Thomas  Miller, 
David  S.  Weart, 
William  E.   Huffman, 
William  Pierce, 
John  B.  Lowe. 

1893— 1894. 
Isaac  S.  Lowe, 
William  Pierce, 
David  Hill, 
John  B.  Lowe, 
William  E.  Huffman, 
G.  R.  Hill, 
Lewis  Sutphin,  Jr. 


336 


AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 


1895— 1897. 
Isaac  S.  Lowe, 
Henry  Kline, 
David  Hill, 
M.  W.  Robinson, 
Lewis  Sutphin,  Jr., 
James  Shepherd, 
Charles  Cronce. 


1898— 1900. 
Isaac  S.  Lowe, 
H.  B.  Kline, 
David  Hill, 
James  Shepherd, 
Lewis  Sutphin,  Jr., 
Johnson  Pierce, 
Charles  Cronce. 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      337 


ROLL    OF    MEMBERS. 

We  have  no  roll  of  the  members  of  the  Church  until 
we  reach  the  modern  period. 

PERIOD   III REV.    JOHN    FLAVEL    CLARK, 

1820 1900. 

Among  the  old  papers  in  a  box  handed  to  Dr.  Mott 
by  Mr.  Wm.  P.  Emery,  I  found  a  single  sheet  of  paper 
written  by  Rev.  John  Flavel  Clark,  on  which  he  states 
he  had  first  preached  as  a  supply  at  Amwell,  October 
28th,  1820.  On  this  paper  he  gives  a  list  of  communi- 
cant members  of  Amwell  First  Church  at  that  time, 
which  is  as  follows: 


Mr.  Titus  Quick,   Elder, 
Mrs.  Hannah  Quick, 
Mrs.  Mary  Prall,  wife  of 

Dr.  Wm.  Prall, 
Mrs.  Mary  Hoagland, 
Mrs.  Mary  Wilson, 
Mr.  Isaac  Taylor, 
Mrs.  Margaret  Taylor, 
Mr.  John  Kee, 
Mrs.  Mary  Schenck,  wife 

of  Wm.  G.  Schenck, 


Mrs.  Sarah  Prall,  wife  of 

Abm.  Prall, 
Mrs.  Ann    Sutphin,    wife 

of  Derick  Sutphin, 
Mrs.  Lucretia  Prall,  wife 

of  Theo.  Prall, 
Mr.  Tunis  Quick, 
Mrs.  Rhoda  Quick, 
Mrs.  Mary  Schenck,  wid- 
ow, 
Mr.  Enos  Lanning, 
Mrs.  Enos  Lanning. 


Seventeen  in  all,  and  not  a  young  person  among  them. 


22 


338 


AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 


Received  by  Rev.  John 
Flavel  Clark: 

1 821 confession. 

Mrs.  Mary  Sutphin, 
Mrs.  Martha  Foster. 

1822. 
William  Hall, 
Mrs.   Sarah   Sutphin, 
Mrs.  Mary  Tenbrook, 
Mrs.  Mary  Prall. 

ON   CERTIFICATE. 

Miss  Catalina  Horlinger, 
Miss  Rebecca  Van  Pelt, 
Miss  Lena  Mattison, 
John  Hageman, 
Mrs.  Leucretia,   his  wife. 

1 823 CONFESSION. 

Peter  Prall, 

Mrs.  Catharine   Stout, 

Mrs.  Frances  Higgins, 

1 824 CONFESSION. 

Derick  Sutphin. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Sophia  Hageman, 
Parmela  Hageman. 

1 825 CONFESSION. 

John  P.  Quick, 
Mrs.  Ann  Blackwell, 
Mrs.  Mary  Bellis, 
Miss  Betsy  Ann  Mattison. 


1 826 CERTIFICATE. 

Mrs.  John  G.  Lanning. 

1 828 CONFESSION. 

Mrs.  Margaret  Blue. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Miss  Catherine  Quick. 

1 829 CONFESSION. 

George  F.  Wilson, 

Mrs.  Lucretia,  his  wife, 

Gideon  Quick, 

Sarah  Fisher,  his  wife, 

Jacob  Schenck, 

Mrs.  Jane,  his  wife, 

Mrs.  Sarah  Labaw, 

Mrs.  Jonathan  Hoagland, 

Lewis  Labaw, 

Eliza  Skillman, 

Alpheus  Chamberlin, 

Mrs.  Catherine,   his  wife, 

Peter  Young, 

Mrs.  Eliza,  his  wife, 

Joseph  Sutphin, 

Mrs.  Mary,   his  wife, 

Polhemus  Higgins. 

1 830 CONFESSION. 

Mr.  John  Holcombe, 
Alexander  McGaw, 
Mrs.  Margaret  Stryker, 
Miss    Julia  Ann  Case, 
Samuel,  a  man  of  color, 
William  G.  Schenck, 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      339 


Henry  Schenck, 
Mrs.  Eliza,  his  wife, 
Peter  Quick, 
Mrs.  Ann,  his  wife, 
Abraham  Prall, 
Arthur  Sutphin, 
Mrs.  Mary,  his  wife, 
Stephen  Stryker, 
Mary  Edward, 
Abraham,  a  colored  boy. 

1 83  I CONFESSION. 

Joseph  Van   Marter, 
Jacob   Polhemus, 
Eliza  Prall, 
Charity  Meldrum, 
Peggy  Schenck, 
Debora  Vanniss, 
Gabriel  Vanniss, 
Caleb  Farley,  and 
Caty,  persons  of  color. 

1 832 CONFESSION. 

Miss  Margaret  Bowman, 
Miss  Harriet  Schenck, 
Miss  Jane  Schenck, 
Hart  Wilson,  and 
Amelia,  his  wife, 
Nathaniel  Wilson, 
Nan,  a  man  of  color, 

1 833 CONFESSION. 

John  Young, 

Keziah,  a  woman  of  color. 


Jonathan  Conover, 

John  Young, 

Betty,  a  woman  of  color. 

1 834 CONFESSION. 

Frank,  a  man  of  color, 
Miss  Margaret  Bowman, 
Mrs.  Sarah  Ann,  wife  of 
Nathaniel  Wilson. 

1836 CONFESSION. 

Miss  Gertrude  Edwards. 
In  all  73  on  examination, 
9  by  letter. 

Received   by   Rev.    Mr. 
Hull: 

1837 confession. 

Jane,  a  woman  of  color, 
Harriet,  a  woman  of  color, 

CERTIFICATE. 

Miss  Mary  Ann  Wilson. 

1 838 CONFESSION. 

Elder  Tunis  Quick, 
George  P.  Rex,  M.  D., 
Gertrude,  his  wife, 
Mrs.  Sarah  Sutphin. 

1840 ENROLLED    FROM 

CLOVER  HILL. 

Jacob  Nevius, 
Hannah,  his  wife, 
Jacob  Williamson, 
Martha,  his  wife. 


340 


AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 


Henry  Van  Derveer, 

Charity,  his  wife, 
Peter  C.  Schenck, 
Catharine,  his  daughter, 
John  W.  Bellis, 
Zebulon  Stout, 
Letitia,  his  wife, 
Mrs.  Anna  Case, 
Mrs.  Clorinda  Case, 
Mrs.  Theodosia  Dilts, 
Mrs.  Sarah  Bellis, 
Mrs.  Anna  Nevius, 
Mrs.  Alletta  Kearney, 
Sampson  M.  Smith, 
John  Wortman, 
Jacob  Voorhees, 
Susan,  his  wife, 
Mrs.  Sarah  Dilts, 
Mrs.  Ann  Young, 
Mrs.  Margaret  Newal, 
Cornelius  P.  Brokaw, 
Catharine  S.,  his  wife. 

1 840 CERTIFICATE. 

Ralph  Sutphin, 
Catharine,  his  wife. 

CONFESSION. 

Miss  Elizabeth  Hageman. 

1 841 CONFESSION. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Young, 
Mrs.  Peter  D.  Young, 
Mrs.  Theodore  Young, 


CERTIFICATE. 

Mrs.  Wilhelmina  Schenck. 

1 842 CONFESSION. 

Mrs.  Peter  C.  Rea, 
Mrs.  Joseph  D.  Moon, 
Miss  Harriet  Phillips, 
Miss  Gertrude  Nevius, 
Molly  Rea,  a  girl  of  color. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Mrs.  Jane  Hull. 

1 843 CONFESSION. 

Miss  Nancy  C.  Schenck, 
Kuhl  Dilts, 
Jacob  W.  Nevius, 
Mary  D.  Hudnut, 
Mary  Voorhees, 
Mrs.  George  Nevius, 
Derick  Sutphin, 
Elizabeth,  his  wife, 
Theodore  J.  Young, 
Margaret  K.  Wert, 
Jacob  J.  Schenck, 
Elnathan  D.  Van  Kirk, 
Abraham  Polhemus, 
Eleanor,  his  wife, 
Alice  Ann  W.  Polhemus, 
Rachel  C.  Polhemus, 
Mary  Young, 
Mrs.  Jacob  Prall, 
David  J.  Bellis, 
John  L.  Bellis, 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1 820-1 900      341 


Susan  F.  Prall, 
William  V.  Waldron, 
Laura,  his  wife, 
Mrs.  Mary  Sutphin, 
Abraham  P.  Sutphin, 
Sarah  Ann,  his  wife. 

CONFESSION. 

Ann  Sharp, 

Sarah  M.  Dilts, 

Mary  Sutphin, 

Elizabeth  Wortman, 

Clara  L.   Quick, 

William  Van  Marter, 

Jacob  Prall, 

Katharine  Prall, 

George  B.  Smith, 

Joseph  Chamberlin  Sut- 
phin, 

Cornelia  Ann,  his  wife, 

John  Sharp, 

Mary  Bellis, 

Margaret  Deats, 

Katharine  Higgins, 

Peter  Q.  Nevius, 

Betty  Wilson,  a  woman  of 
color, 

Caleb  T.  Prall, 

Hester,  his  wife, 

John  J.  Young, 

Mrs.  Ketenus  Young, 

Miss  Mary  Case, 


Miss  Anna  Labaw, 
Miss  Bella  Labaw, 
Miss  Rose  Ann,  a  person 
of  color. 

1844, 
Stephen  L.  Mershon. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Mrs.  Jacob  Van  Derveer. 
Being  loi  in  all. 

Received   by   Rev.    Mr. 
Carrell : 
1 845 — certificate. 

Edward  L.  Reed, 

Rachel  S.  Reed, 

Mrs.   Mary    S.    Carrell, 

Miss  Rhoda  Quick, 

Garret  Schenck, 

Ann,  his  wife, 

George  P.  Rex,  M.  D., 

Gertrude,  his  wife, 

Mrs.  Gilbert  Van  Camp, 

Mrs.  Jacob  Nevius,  Jr. 
confession. 

Ketenus  Young, 

Mrs.  John  Case. 

1 846 — confession. 

Mrs.  Peter  C.  Schenck, 

Mrs.  William  Van   Mar- 
ter, 

Mrs.  Lanning  Nevius, 


342 


AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 


Miss  Sarah  Hagaman. 

CONFESSION. 

Jacob  Q.  Spadin, 
William  Sheppard, 
Nelson  Warner, 
Hannah  Prall, 
Susan  Stout, 
Rebecca  Young, 
Mary  Waldron, 
Leah  Hoagland, 
John  Y.  Bellis, 
Elizabeth  Ann  Bellis, 
Thomas  Wilson, 
Susanah  Wilson, 
Josiah  Young, 
Mary  Young, 
John  Phillips, 
Martha  M.  Phillips, 
Nathaniel  Wilson  Young, 
John  Van  Ess, 
Jacob  F.  Quick, 
Christianna  Quick, 
John  Quick, 
Frances  Quick, 
Alburtus  Bird, 
Lucretia  Bird, 
Sarah  Ann  Bird, 
Catharine  Griggs, 
Ellen  Schenck, 
Theodosia  Schenck, 
Mary  Nevius, 


Catharine  Holcombe, 
Sarah  Catharine  Worman, 
Elizabeth  Myers, 
Miss  Hanna  Bowman. 
Also  these  persons  of  color : 
James  Williainson, 
Charles  Wilson, 
Catharine  Hagaman, 
Catharine  Williamson. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Mrs.  William  Sheppard, 
Mrs.  Eleanor  Knouse. 

1 847 CONFESSION. 

Isaac  Young, 

Mrs.  Hankinson  Kinney. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Waterman  Thomas, 
Mrs.  Maria  Johnson, 
Mrs.  Abraham  Quick. 

1 848 CONFESSION. 

John  Brown, 
Mrs.  John  Wyckoff. 
Mrs.  Alexander  Stryker, 
Miss  Elizabeth  Little. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Mrs.  Ann  Brewster, 
Miss  Elizabeth  Young. 

1 849 CONFESSION. 

Mrs.  Ketenus  Young. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Garret  Schenck, 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1 820-1 900      343 


Ann,  his  wife, 
Miss  Ellen  Schenck, 
Miss  Theodosia  Schenck, 
Miss  Maria  Lanning, 
Mrs.  Peter  Case, 
Dinah,  a  woman  of  color, 
Obedia  Howell  Hazard. 

1 852 CONFESSION. 

Abraham  Young, 
Clarinda,  his  wife, 
Mary  Wood, 
Harriet  Atkinson, 
Mary  West, 
Anna  Higgins, 
Sarah  D.  Young, 
Sarah   Holcombe, 
Mary  Graff, 
Miss  Letitia  Wilson. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Mrs.  Prall  Chamberlin. 

1853. 

Andrew  Alpaugh, 
Mrs.  Julia  Dana, 
Joseph  C.  Huff, 
Margaret  Ann,  his  wife. 

1 854 CONFESSION. 

Jacob  K.  Van  Derveer, 
Peter  Case, 
Clarinda  Labaw, 


Sarah  Labaw, 
Miss  Ellen  Young. 

1855. 
Horace  Nelson, 
Mrs.  Christian  Nevius. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Cornelius  Wyckoff, 
Sarah,  his  wife. 

1 85  7 — CERTIFICATE. 

Miss  Mary  Hudnut, 
Mrs.  Alpaugh. 

1858. 
Mrs.  John  Soms, 
Mrs.  Soms. 

CONFESSION. 

Mrs.  William    Parker, 

1859. 
Jacob  S.  Prall, 
Rebecca,  his  wife, 
James  P.  Foote, 
Miss  Hannah  Soms. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Mrs.  Lewis  Chamberlin, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Stout, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Dungan. 
Received  on  Confession  72 
By  Certificate   34 


In    all    106 


344 


AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 


Received   by  Rev.   Mr. 
Van  Wyck: 
1 860 — certificate. 
Mr.  Edwin  Bartow, 
Mary,  his  wife, 
Nathan  Solomon, 
Mrs.  William  Bellis, 
Mrs.  Jane  Y.White. 

CONFESSION. 

Christopher  J.  Dillon. 
Catharine,  his  wife, 
Miss  Catharine   Sutphin, 
Thomas  Hall, 
Jacob  Hall. 

1 86 1 CONFESSION. 

Miss  Elizabeth  Young. 

1 862 CERTIFICATE. 

William  S.  Higgins, 
Ellen  M.  Wolverton. 

CONFESSION. 

George  Young. 

Received   by   Rev.   Mr. 

Janeway  : 
1 863 — confession. 
Mrs.  Ellen  Rea, 
Martin  J.  Bellis, 
Mrs.  Martha     R.      Hol- 

combe, 
Mrs.  Ann  Sutphin, 
Mrs.  Mary  E.  Schenck, 


Mrs.  Mary  Conover, 
Mrs.  Sarah  Ann  Hall, 
Mrs.  Sarah  Conover, 
Mrs.  Mary  M.  William- 
son, 
Lewis  Sutphin, 
Joseph  C.  Harrison, 
Levi  Holcombe, 
Mrs,  Van  Horn, 
Mrs.  Eliza  Young, 
Miss  Sallie  A.  Quick, 
Miss  Jenny  Quick, 
Joseph  Brown, 
Joseph  Titus, 
Mrs.  Rachel  Foot, 
Mrs.  Henrietta  Priestly, 
Mrs.     Caroline    William- 
son, 
Mrs.  Mary  Wilson, 
Miss  Delilah   Martingale, 
Miss  Rebecca  Voorhees, 
Miss  Isabella  Wood, 
Mrs.  Madelin  Brown, 
Miss  Cornelia  Cortelyou, 
Miss  Frances  Drake, 
Miss  Ann    Augusta    Cor- 
telyou, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Smith, 
Mrs.  Maria  Higgins, 
Oliver  Phillips, 
Jonathan  B.  Higgins. 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      345 


CERTIFICATE. 

Thomas  Reeder  Snook, 
Sarah,  his  wife, 
Abraham  S.  Stone, 
Mrs.  Lydia  Stone, 
John  H.  Johnson, 
Mrs.  Mary,  his  wife, 
Miss  Sarah  Johnson. 

1 864 CONFESSION. 

Mrs.  Ann  Higgins, 

Miss  Maria  V.  Higgins, 

Miss  Margaret  Young, 

Miss  Mary  Ann  Dilts, 
Jacob  Dilts, 

Mrs.  Jane  Ann  Dilts, 

Mrs.  Rebecca  Stout, 

Mrs.  Matilda  Robins, 

Mrs.  Mary  Brown, 

Mrs.  Mary   Chamberlain, 

Mrs.  Eleanor  La  Rue, 

Mrs.  Jemima  Johnson, 

Mrs.  Ellen  S.  Hunt, 

Miss  Debora  La  Rue, 

Miss  Mary  Jane  Voorhees, 

Miss  Georgiana  Height, 
Gideon  Stout, 

Mrs.  Eliza  Stout, 

Mrs.  Sarah  Maria  Todd, 

Mrs.  Louisa  Waldron, 

Mrs.  Anna  E.  Hudnut, 


Miss  Rebecca    E.    Matti- 
son. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Levi  C.  Little, 
Robert  W.  Hunt, 
John  WyckofiF, 
Mary,  his  wife. 
Miss  Mary  Ball. 

Received    by    Mr.    Up- 
ham: 

1 865 confession. 

Miss  Pauline  Meyers, 
Miss  Augusta  Young, 
Edward  L  Smith, 
John  Emilie  Holcombe, 
Mrs.  Holcombe,  his  wife, 

CERTIFICATE. 

Irenaeus  R.  Glen,  M.  D., 
Mrs.  Annie  H.  Upham, 
Mrs.  Martha    W.    Voor- 
hees, 
Mrs.  Mary      Elizabeth 

Wyckoff, 
Mrs.  Martha  Smith, 
Mrs.  Christianna  Hiner, 
Mrs.  William  Q.  Hiner. 

1 866 CONFESSION. 

William  Lanning, 
Elizabeth,  his  wife, 
Mrs.  Harrison  Sutphin, 


346 


AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 


Miss  Amanda  Quick, 

Miss  Catharine  Quick, 

Miss  Caroline  Johnson, 

Miss  Sarah  Pyatt. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Mrs.  William    J.     Huff- 
man, 
Mrs.  E.  Rynearson. 

1 867 CONFESSION. 

Mrs.  Margaret    B.     Van 

Fleet, 
Miss  Sarah  Housel, 
Mrs.  Mahlon  Higgins, 
Mrs.  Stout  Servis, 
Abraham  J.  Prall, 
Mrs.  Prall, 

Miss  Mary  Dalrymple, 
Miss  Mary       Catherine 

Hartsel, 
Mrs.  Miller  K.  Reading, 
Miss  Susan  Anna  Packer, 
William  C.  Ball. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Col.  John  H.  Sutphin, 
Mrs.     Dr.     Irenaeus     R. 

Glen, 
Miss  Augusta  Case, 
John  Wilson, 
Mrs.  John  Wilson, 
William  G.  Hill, 
Rebecca  Ann,  his  wife, 


J.  T.  Hudnut. 

1 868 — CONFESSION. 

William  B.  Prall, 

Elizabeth,  his  wife, 

Miss  Caroline    R  o  d  e  n  - 

baugh. 
Miss  Anna  Housel, 
Miss  Mary  Cronce, 
Levi  Housel, 
Edward  Larison. 

CERTIFICATE. 

John  J.  Marsh, 
Mrs.  Maria  Marsh, 
Miss  Rebecca  Huffman. 

1869. 
Mrs.  Martha        Skillman 
Holcombe, 

CONFESSION. 

Miss  Louisa  Cole, 
Jerry  Bristow,  colored. 

1870. 
Miss  Jane  Hagens, 
Miss  Mary  Ann  Thomson, 
Henry  H.  Hageman, 
Miss  Carrie  Hill, 
Miss  Mary  C.  Reed, 

CERTIFICATE. 

Mrs.  Rebecca    B.     Hage- 
man, 
Mrs.  John  Williamson, 
Jacob  H.  Wessels, 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820-1900      347 


Albert  Case, 

Miss       Mary       Jennings 
Crocker. 

187  I CERTIFICATE. 

Mrs.  John  P.  Quick, 
George  P.  Rex,  M.  D., 
Mrs.  Gertrude,  his  wife. 
In  all  on  Confession.  .    37 
In  all  on  Certificate.  .   29 


Total    66 

Received  by  Rev.  John 
H.  Scofield: 

1872 CONFESSION. 

Miss  Hannah  Rex, 
Miss  Sarah  L.  Waters. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Harrison  Sutphin, 
Caroline,  his  wife. 

1 873 CONFESSION. 

Rachel  W.  Conover, 
John  Waters, 
Peter  Quick  Holcombe, 
Emma  Sophia  Bellis, 
Abraham  J.   Prall,   Jr. 
Mrs.  Anna    Cornelia,    his 

wife, 
Mrs.  Ara  Hill  Blackwell, 
Mrs.  Catharine  Louisa 

McPherson, 


Miss  Hannah  M.  Sut- 
phin, 

Miss  Caroline  V.  D. 
Case, 

Miss  Catharine  C.  Case, 

Miss  Elizabeth  Ann 
Hilyer. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Miss  Jeannetta    McPher- 
son, 
Mrs.  Annie  E.  Cronce, 
Samuel  H.  Hageman, 
Mary  C,  his  wife, 
John  N.  Gile«?, 
Sarah  C,  his  wife, 
Aaron  Auten, 
Sarah  M.,  his  wife, 
Twenty-four  in  all. 

Received   by   Rev.   Mr. 
Beekman : 
1 875 — confession. 
Mrs.  Hannah  Wood, 
Catharine   Van    Est    Sut- 
phin, 
Mrs.  Mary  Wortman, 
Miss  Selina  Wortman, 
Miss  Elizabeth     C.     Sut- 
phin, 
John  K.  Shurts, 
Miss  Sallie  A.  Waters. 


34B 


AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 


CERTIFICATE. 

Mrs.  Helen  B.  Beekman, 
Harriet    Mary    Williams, 
colored. 

1876 CONFESSION. 

William  Deats, 

George  S.  Davis, 

William  Osborn, 

Moses  Lapsley, 

Miss  Hannah  M.  Hill, 

Miss  Catherine  Quick, 

Cassie  Rex,  colored, 

Miss  Mary  Fink, 

John  S.  Hoagland, 

Jacob  Osborn, 

Miss  Juliette  Blanch  Belk- 

man, 
Miss  Addie  H.  Prall, 
Miss  Mary  Quick, 
Miss  Mary  D.  Hoagland, 
Mrs.  Eliza  Hill, 
Mrs.  Martha  H.  Young, 
Mrs.  Esther  Ann  Osborn, 
Miss  Luella  Stryker, 
John  W.  Dalrymple, 
Barton  Huffman, 
David  B.  Huffman, 
Lewis  Getherd, 
Miss  Maggie  K.  Smith. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Nathaniel  G.  Wilson, 


Caroline  A.,  his  wife, 
Mrs.   Sarah  V.  Pierce. 

1 87  7 CONFESSION. 

Millard  Farrow, 
Theodore  Todd. 

1878 CERTIFICATE. 

Mrs.  Magdalene     Wal- 

dron, 
Mrs.  Joanna  Farrow, 
Miss  Naomi  Farrow, 
Miss  Emma  Farrow, 
Miss  Helen  Farrow. 

Received   by   Rev.    Mr. 
Blattenberger: 

1 879 confession. 

James  P.  Chamberlin, 
Thomas  Miller, 
William  Hill, 
Mary  Ann,  his  wife, 
William  F.  Chamberlin, 
Arthur  Sutphin, 
Leonard  D.  Wilson, 
John  J.  Hall, 
David  S.  Prall, 
John  K.  Agans, 
Brogun  B.  V.  N.  Lowe, 
Calvin  Hoagland, 
Mrs.  Ann  E.  Strimple, 
Mrs.  Ellen  A.  Smith, 
Miss  Sarah  Q.  Hagaman, 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      349 


Miss  Sarah  M.  Haines, 
Mrs.  Sarah    Louisa   Fish- 
er, 
Mrs.  Lucretia  H.  Dilts, 
Isaac  S.  Lowe, 
William   E.  J.   Huffman, 
Caleb  F.  Quick, 
Catharine  B.,  his  wife, 
Jacob  Hoagland, 
John  E.  Hoagland, 
Mrs.  Ellen  Hoagland, 
Mrs.  Ada  V.  Hill, 
Mrs.  Ellen  Hill, 
Miss  Julia  Sutphin, 
Miss  Ella  L.  Smith, 
Miss  Sallie  Dilts, 
Miss  Mary  E.  Prall, 
Miss  Hannah  Prall, 
Miss  Lizzie  P.  Hill, 
Miss  Fannie  Quick, 
Miss  Julia  H.  Smith, 
Miss  Georgiana  Dilts, 
Miss  Mary  Chamberlin, 
Miss  Kate  C.   Holcombe, 
Miss  Bell  Hill, 
Miss  Hannah  B.  Hocken- 

bury, 
Miss  Ann  Rebecca  Deats, 
Miss  Cora  L.  Bowlby, 
Miss  Mary  Prall, 
Miss  Wilhelmina  Sipler, 


Miss  Kate  Jones, 
Mrs.  William  Servis, 
Mrs.  Rachel  Trimmer, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  D.  A.  Ser- 
vis, 
David  Chamberlin, 
Clarinda,  his  wife, 
William  Boughner, 
Walter  M.  Risler, 
William  Dilts. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Mrs.  Mattie     Blattenber- 

ger, 
Mrs.  Rebecca  M.  Cham- 
berlin, 
John  B.  Lowe, 
Mrs.  John  B.  Lowe, 
George  W.  Deats, 
Mrs.  Ann  Dilts, 
Theodore  F.  Swarer, 
Mrs.  T.  F.  Swarer, 
Henry  F.  Apgar, 
Mrs.  H.  F.  Apgar, 
Mrs.  Theodosia  Hall, 
Mrs.  M.    Elizabeth    Hig- 

gins, 
Mrs.  Hannah   M.    Hoag- 
land, 
Mrs.  Rachel  Lowe, 
Mrs.  Rachel    B.    Bough- 
ner, 


350 


AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 


Mrs.  David  Bartson, 

Mrs.  William  Servis, 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  D.  A.  Ser- 
vis, 

Mrs.  Rachel  Trimmer, 

Miss  Abigail  Marsh, 

Miss  Mary  P.  Quick, 

Miss  Anna  W.  Bowlby. 

I  880 CONFESSION. 

Mrs.  Fanny  Griggs, 
Miss  Sarah  E.  Van  Horn. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Miss  Mary  A.  Wilson, 
Stephen  A.  Staats, 
M.  V.  Gulick,  his  wife, 
Jonathan  E.  Haines, 
Miss  Rebecca  Fink, 
William  S.  Schenck, 
Mary  Young,  his  w^ife. 

1 881 CONFESSION. 

Ralph  Y.  Smith, 
Miss  Mary  Ann  Sipler, 
Miss  Kate  C.  Griggs, 
Miss  Mary  J.  Housel, 
Miss  Sarah  Agans, 
David  R.  Housel, 
George  F.  Bacon, 
Emma  C,  his  w^ife, 

CERTIFICATE. 

Mrs.  Jennie  Smith, 
Mrs.  Emeline  Laubach. 


1882 CONFESSION. 

Samuel  Haines. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Miss  Jennie  Hoagland, 
Richard  B.  McPherson. 

1 883 CONFESSION. 

Miss  Kate  R.  Holcombe, 
Miss  Bessie  Smith, 
Miss  Georgie  Holcombe, 
Miss  Lydia  Zeaman, 
Miss  Mattie  E.  McPher- 
son, 
Miss  Rettie  R.  Higgins, 
Miss  Carrie  Boyce, 
Miss  Maggie  Hunt, 
Miss  Mary      Etta      Van 

Horn, 
Schenck  Smith, 
Hannah  M.,  his  wife. 
Miss  Lizzie  Kisz, 
Miss  Maggie  M.  Kisz, 
Miss  Annie  E.  Mitter, 
Miss  Minnie     L.     Hoag- 
land, 
John  J.  Kisz, 
Alexander  R.  Griggs, 
Samuel  Peters,  colored. 

CERTIFICATE. 

B.  B.  Voorhees, 
Martha      Pittenger,      his 
wife. 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1 820-1 900      351 


Isaac  N.  Brokaw, 
Elizabeth  A.,  his  wife, 
Mrs.  Cora  E.  Wilson, 
J.  Jacob  Kisz. 

1 884 CONFESSION. 

Miss  Cornelia  Hill, 
Andrew  M.  Dilts, 
Charles  M.  Sipler,  Jr., 
Mrs.  Martha  T.  Todd, 
Miss  Sarah  M.  Lyman, 
Dora  Hoagland. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Mrs.  Gertrude  V.  M.  Pe- 
terson, 
Lemuel  Hoagland, 
Mary,  his  wife. 

1 885 CONFESSION. 

Miss  Laura  B.  White, 
Miss  Emma  F.  Hall, 
Miss  Susie  K.  Cronce, 
Miss  Cora  M.  Sutphin, 
Frederick  Dirking. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Mrs.  Mary  Everett, 
Mrs.  Rhoda  F.  Quick. 

1 886 CONFESSION. 

Mrs.  Robert     R.     Smith, 

Jr., 
Lemuel  White, 
Mary  F.,  his  wife. 


CERTIFICATE. 

Frederick  Powelson, 
Emma  B.,  his  wife, 
Mrs.  Ann  R.  Sweitzer. 

1 887 CONFESSION. 

John  W.  Lebler, 
Augusta,  his  wife. 
Miss  Cornelia  A.  Case, 
Frederick  V.  D.  Durham. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Mrs.  Rose  Young  Prall, 
Henry  Lunger, 
Mrs.  Sarah   R.    R.    Hoff- 
man. 

Received  by  Rev.  T.  C. 

Potter : 
1888 — confession. 
Mrs.  Winfield  Case, 
Jonathan  T.  Conover, 
Asher  Higgins, 
Charles  F.  Creveling,  M. 

D., 
Malvina  Baird,  colored. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth    M.    Pot- 
ter, 
Mrs.     Lizzie  Higgins, 
Mrs.  Isaac  Wyckoff, 
Mr.  George  H.  Horsfall, 
Mrs.  George  Horsfall. 


352 


AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 


1 889 — CONFESSION. 

Alvin  Hill, 
Lewis  C.   Sutphin, 
John  V.  M.  Wyckoff, 
Mrs.  Mary  E.  Carkhuff, 
Mrs.  N.  M.  Resch, 
Miss  Anna   M.   William- 
son, 
Miss  Hannah  R.  Swarer, 
Miss  Hannah    E.    Hoag- 

land, 
Mrs.  Mar}^  Hoffman, 
Miss  Laura  E.  Dilts, 
Miss  Mary  L.  Dilts, 
Johnson  B.  Pierce, 
William  L.  Van  Syckle, 
Robert  M.  Conover. 

CERTIFICATE. 

John  C.  Williamson. 

Received  by  Rev.  J.  B. 
Kugler: 

1 890 confession. 

Eugene  La  Tourette, 
Alfred  Reasinger, 
Ira  Hill, 
Joseph  Higgins, 
Bessie  Hill, 
Lena  Wyckoff, 
Jennie  V.  C.  Staats, 
Mrs.  Margaret  Case, 


Miss  Annie  Higgins  Case. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Mrs.  Annie  Cramer  Kug- 
ler. 

1 891 CONFESSION. 

Mrs.  Henry  Daniels, 
Miss  Florence  A.   Boyd, 
Howard  C.  Sutphin, 
Charles  H.  Snook,  colored, 
Elmer  White. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Robert  Boyd, 
Elizabeth  P.,  his  wife, 
Cornelius  Miller, 
Mary  Whitenack,  his  wife, 
John  L.  Burke, 
Sarah,  his  wife, 
Miss  Pearl  Burk, 
Morris  W.  Robinson, 
Lizzie  J.  Stiger,  his  wife. 

1 892 CONFESSION. 

Charles  T.  Hockenbury, 
Miss  Ellen  C.  Young, 
James  Woodburn  Wilson, 
Augustus  Lebler, 
Mrs.  Augustus  Lebler, 
Robert  R.  Smith, 
Brokaw  Quick, 
Mrs.  Jane  Ann  Quick, 
Jesse  B.  Conover. 


THE  MODERN  PERIOD— 1820- 1900      353 


CERTIFICATE. 

Mrs.  Lewis  Huff, 
Mrs.  Woodburn  Wilson, 
Mrs.  Mary  E.  Kane, 
Mrs.  Horace  Herder, 
Mrs.  Charles   F.    Crevel- 
ing. 

1 893 — CONFESSION. 

William  B.  Prall,  Jr. 

CERTIFICATE. 

John  Young, 
Henry  C.  Kline, 
Jennie     C.     Young,     his 
wife. 

1 894 — CONFESSION. 

Anna  A.  Sutphin. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Samuel  Griggs, 
Georgianna,  his  wife, 
Belle  C.  Griggs, 
Mrs.  Isaac  Lowe, 
Mrs.  Johnson  B.  Pierce, 
Mrs.  Mary  C.  Karkhuff. 

1 895 CONFESSION. 

John  H.  Swarer, 
Wilhelmina  Rounsaville, 
Robert  Smith, 
Charles  Cronce, 

23 


Samuel  Gano, 
Samuel  Hall, 

Miss  Elizabeth  E.  Walk- 
er, 
John  V.  Hoagland, 
Mrs.  John  Swarer, 
John  Q.  Williamson, 
Mary  Ann,  his  wife, 
William  H.  Housel, 
Peter  H.  Conover, 
William  H.  Conover, 
Sarah  Taylor, 
Cora  B.  Rounsaville, 
Cornelia  R.  Smith. 

CERTIFICATE. 

Mrs.  Peter  H.  Conover, 
Mrs.  Charles    D.    Wyck- 

off, 
Mrs.  W.  Y.  Holt, 
William  B.  Dungan, 
Mrs.  William    B.     Dun- 
gan, 
Elizabeth  Dungan. 

1896. 

None. 

1897 — CONFESSION. 

Mrs.  William  Cronce, 
Sarah  Mowry, 


354 


AMWELL  FIRST  CHURCH 


Eleanor  Griggs, 
Alexander  Stryker, 
E.  Myrta  Bellls, 
Anna  W.  Sutphin. 

1 898 — CONFESSION. 

Elizabeth  S.  Hall. 


1898 CERTIFICATE. 

Mrs.  William    B.    Prall, 
Jr. 

1 899 CERTIFICATE. 

Mrs.  Howard  Sutphin, 
Mrs.  John  Ent. 


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